THERMALLY EXPANDABLE MATERIAL USEFUL FOR REDUCING VIBRATIOIN TRANSFER

• US 20080176969A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Henkel AG & Co KGaA
• Original Assignee: Henkel AG & Co KGaA
• Inventors: Wojtowicki, Jean-Luc, Germes, Sylvain, Tahri, Laurent
• Application Number:
  US12/049,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176969A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 521/99
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2353/02 of vinyl aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/06 by a chemical blowing agent
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/0853 Vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence

Abstract

A thermally expandable material is provided that, once expanded, has a Young'"'"'s storage modulus E′ between 0.1 MPa and 1000 MPa, a loss factor of at least 0.3 (preferably, at least 1) and preferably a shear storage modulus G′ between 0.1 MPa and 500 MPa at a temperature between −10 and +40 degrees C. in the frequency range 0 to 500 Hz. Such materials are useful in combination with a carrier to form a dissipative vibratory wave barrier that effectively reduces the transfer of vibrations from a vibration generator, as may be present in a vehicle.

Claims

1. A thermally expandable material that when expanded has a Young'"'"'s storage modulus E′

between 0.1 MPa and 1000 MPa and a loss factor higher than 0.3 at a temperature between −

10 and +40 degrees C. in the frequency range 0 to 500 Hz.

2. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material comprises at least one thermoplastic elastomer, at least one non-elastomeric thermoplastic, at least one stabilizer or antioxidant, at least one blowing agent, and at least one curing agent.

3. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one peroxide curing agent.

4. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethanes, styrene/butadiene block copolymers, hydrogenated styrene/butadiene block copolymers, styrene/isoprene block copolymers, and hydrogenated styrene/isoprene block copolymers.

5. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one non-elastomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers.

6. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer or oligomer.

7. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one plasticizer.

8. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one wax.

9. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one latent chemical blowing agent.

10. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one tackifying resin.

11. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one blowing agent activator.

12. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material is comprised of at least one styrene/isoprene/styrene triblock polymer or fully or partially hydrogenated derivative thereof with at least about 50% of the polymerized isoprene monomer moieties having 1,2 and/or 3,4 configurations.

13. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material comprises:

a). from 25 to 70% by weight of at least one thermoplastic elastomer;

b). from 15 to 40% by weight of at least one non-elastomeric thermoplastic;

c). from 0.01 to 2% by weight of at least one stabilizer or antioxidant;

d). from 2 to 15% by weight of at least one blowing agent; and

e). from 0.5 to 4% by weight of at least one curing agent.

14. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material comprises:

a). from 35 to 55% by weight of at least one thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethanes, styrene/butadiene block copolymers, hydrogenated styrene/butadiene block copolymers, styrene/isoprene block copolymers, and hydrogenated styrene/isoprene block copolymers;

b). from 20 to 35% by weight of at least one non-elastomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers;

c). from 0.05 to 1% by weight of at least one stabilizer or antioxidant;

d). at least one latent chemical blowing agent in an amount effective to cause the expandable material to expand at least 100% in volume when heated at a temperature of 150 degrees C. for at least 20 minutes;

e). from 0.5 to 4% by weight of at least one peroxide; and

f). from 0.5 to 2% by weight of at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer or oligomer;

wherein said thermally expandable material contains less than 10% by weight filler.

15. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material comprises:

a). from 25 to 70% by weight of at least one thermoplastic elastomer;

b). from 15 to 40% by weight of at least one non-elastomeric thermoplastic;

c). from 0.01 to 2% by weight of at least one stabilizer or antioxidant;

d). from 2 to 15% by weight of at least one blowing agent;

e). from 0.5 to 4% by weight of at least one curing agent;

f). at least one tackifying resin, in an amount up to 10% by weight;

g). at least one wax, in an amount up to 10% by weight; and

h). at least one plasticizer, in an amount up to 5% by weight.

16. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material comprises:

a). from 35 to 55% by weight of at least one styrene/isoprene block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrene/isoprene block copolymers;

b). from 20 to 35% by weight of at least one non-elastomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers;

c). from 0.05 to 1% by weight of at least one stabilizer or antioxidant;

d). at least one latent chemical blowing agent in an amount effective to cause the expandable material to expand at least 100% in volume when heated at a temperature of 150 degrees C. for at least 20 minutes;

e). from 0.5 to 4% by weight of at least one organic peroxide;

f). from 0.5 to 2% by weight of at least one C₁ to C₆ alkyl (meth)acrylate;

g). at least one tackifying resin, in an amount up to 10% by weight;

h). at least one plasticizer, in an amount up to 5% by weight; and

i). at least one wax, in an amount up to 10% by weight;

wherein said thermally expandable material contains less than 10% by weight filler.

17. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least about 50% of the polymerized isoprene monomer moieties in said at least one styrene/isoprene block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer have 1,2 and/or 3,4 configurations.

18. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 1, wherein said thermally expandable material comprises:

a). from 35 to 55% by weight of at least one styrene/isoprene block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of styrene/isoprene block copolymers;

b). from 20 to 35% by weight of at least one non-elastomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers;

c). from 0.05 to 1% by weight of at least one stabilizer or antioxidant;

d). at least one latent chemical blowing agent in an amount effective to cause the expandable material to expand at least 100% in volume when heated at a temperature of 150 degrees C. for at least 20 minutes;

e). from 0.5 to 4% by weight of at least one curing agent capable of inducing free radical reactions;

g). at least one tackifying resin, in an amount up to 10% by weight; and

h). at least one plasticizer, in an amount up to 5% by weight.

19. A thermally expandable material in accordance with claim 18, wherein at least about 50% of the polymerized isoprene monomer moieties in said at least one styrene/isoprene block copolymer thermoplastic elastomer have 1,2 and/or 3,4 configurations.