Thermoplastic elastomer with desirable grip especially during wet conditions

• US 20110143112A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teknor Apex Company
• Original Assignee: Teknor Apex Company
• Inventors: Cai, Kevin G., Anderson, Gregory J., Worley, Darnell C. II
• Granted Patent: US 9,573,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/217
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/14 comprising synthetic rubber copolymers B32B25/18 and B32B25/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2509/00 Household appliances
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/022 Mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 3/02 Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/025 modified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24983 Hardness

Abstract

Thermoplastic elastomer compositions having a desirable soft touch feel to skin, and in particular grip, especially during wet, soapy and humid conditions. In one embodiment, the composition is part of a composite system, wherein the composition is connected, for example molded, overmolded or co-extruded to a substrate, such as a thermoplastic, glass or metal. The compositions and composites are suitable for use wherever desirable feel and grip are needed, such as handles or grips of household or industrial items.

Claims

1. An elastomeric composition having desirable wet grip properties, comprising:

one or more of a) a styrenic block copolymer comprising at least one hard block (A) derived from at least two aromatic vinyl compound units and at least one soft polymer block (B), wherein the soft polymer block (B) is derived from one or more of olefin monomers and diene monomers, b) a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) and c) an olefin block copolymer; and

a polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of said styrenic block copolymer, thermoplastic vulcanizate and olefin block copolymer is from about 10 to about 80 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition, and wherein the polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl is present in an amount from about 1 to about 20 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition.

3. The composition according to claim 2, wherein the total amount of said styrenic block copolymer, thermoplastic vulcanizate and olefin block copolymer is from about 15 to about 65 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition, and wherein the polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl is present in an amount from about 3 to about 15 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition.

4. The composition according to claim 2, wherein the polar functional group is derived from maleic anhydride.

5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl comprises polyisobutylene succinic anhydride.

6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition further includes a zeolite, wherein the zeolite is present in an amount from about 5 to about 35 parts based on 100 total parts by weight of the composition.

7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the composition further includes a softener, inorganic filler and a polyolefin polymer or copolymer.

8. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the composition further includes an organic filler in an amount from about 1 to about 35 parts based on 100 total parts by weight of the composition.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the organic filler comprises thermoplastic starch.

10. The composition according to claim 6, wherein the styrenic block copolymer is present.

11. The composition according to claim 10, wherein the thermoplastic vulcanizate is present and is derived from an unsaturated rubber, a thermoplastic polymer, and a crosslinking agent.

12. A thermoplastic elastomer composition, comprising:

an elastomer, polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl and a zeolite, wherein the polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl is present in an amount from about 1 to about 20 parts, and wherein the zeolite is present in an amount from about 5 to about 35 parts, all said parts based on 100 total parts by weight of the composition.

13. The composition according to claim 12, wherein the polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl is present in an amount from about 3 to about 15 parts, and wherein the zeolite is present in an amount from about 5 to about 25 parts, all said parts based on 100 total parts by weight of the composition.

14. The composition according to claim 12, wherein the polar functional group is derived from maleic anhydride, and wherein the elastomer comprises one or more of a) a styrenic block copolymer comprising at least one hard block (A) derived from at least two aromatic vinyl compound units and at least one soft polymer block (B), wherein the soft polymer block (B) is derived from one or more of olefin monomers and diene monomers, b) a thermoplastic vulcanizate, and c) an olefin block copolymer.

15. The composition according to claim 14, wherein the composition further includes a softener, inorganic filler and a polyolefin polymer or copolymer.

16. The composition according to claim 15, wherein the elastomer comprises the thermoplastic vulcanizate, wherein the thermoplastic vulcanizate is derived from an unsaturated rubber, a thermoplastic polymer, and a crosslinking agent.

17. A composite, comprising:

an elastomeric composition connected to a substrate material, the substrate material having a greater hardness than the elastomeric composition, the elastomeric composition comprising one or more of a) a styrenic block copolymer comprising at least one hard block (A) derived from at least two aromatic vinyl compound units and at least one soft polymer block (B), wherein the soft polymer block (B) is derived from one or more of olefin monomers and diene monomers, b) a thermoplastic vulcanizate and c) an olefin block copolymer; and

a polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl.

18. The composite according to claim 17, wherein the substrate comprises one or more of a polymer, glass and a metal.

19. The composite according to claim 18, wherein the total amount of said styrenic block copolymer, thermoplastic vulcanizate and olefin block copolymer is from about 10 to about 80 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition, wherein the polar functional group terminated polyalkenyl is present in an amount from about 1 to about 20 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition, and wherein the polar functional group is derived from maleic anhydride.

20. The composite according to claim 19, wherein the composition further includes a zeolite, wherein the zeolite is present in an amount from about 5 to about 35 parts based on 100 total parts by weight of the composition.

21. The composite according to claim 20, wherein the composition further includes a softener, inorganic filler and a polyolefin polymer or copolymer.

22. The composite according to claim 17, wherein the elastomeric composition comprises said styrenic block copolymer, and wherein said styrenic block copolymer is present in an amount from about 15 to about 45 parts per 100 parts by weight of the composition.