Method for decontaminating and sealing the interior spaces of an insulated electrical device utilizing mineral oil-extended polyurethanes
First Claim
1. A process for removing aqueous contaminants from the interior free spaces of an insulated electrical device and for subsequently sealing said device against further water penetration comprising the steps of pumping into said device a composition comprising mineral oil, polyurethane precursor and coupling agent, said precursor comprising(a) a polyol selected from the group consisting of castor oil, polyether polyols, hydroxyl bearing homopolymers of butadiene, hydroxyl bearing copolymers of butadiene and styrene, and combinations thereof, and(b) a polyisocyanate prepolymer prepared by reacting(i) polyisocyanate with(ii) a polyol selected from the group consisting of castor oil, polyether polyols, hydroxyl bearing homopolymers of butadiene, hydroxyl bearing copolymers of butadiene and styrene, and combinations thereof,wherein at least a portion of the polyol used in (a) and/or at least a portion of the polyol used in (b) (ii) is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl bearing homopolymers of butadiene and hydroxyl bearing copolymers of butadiene and styrene, said coupling agent being characterized by:
- (a) being miscible in all proportions with said mineral oil;
(b) having a solubility parameter between 7.0 and 9.5;
(c) having a hydrogen bonding index number in the range of from 6.0 to 12.0; and
(d) being non-reactive with said polyurethane precursor, andreacting said polyol with said polyisocyanate prepolymer in the presence of said mineral oil and said coupling agent to obtain a cured, cross-linked, mineral oil extended polyurethane which is non-spewing and gel-like in consistency and which comprises from about 8 to about 45 parts of polyurethane, from about 25 to about 75 parts of mineral oil and from about 10 to about 35 parts of coupling agent, all parts expressed on a weight basis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a method of sealing and purging contaminants from the internal free spaces of an insulated electrical device by forcing into said free spaces a low viscosity material that acts to displace fluid contaminants from within said free spaces. The material later cures in situ to form a hydrophobic seal with good electrical properties. Also disclosed herein is a method for rehabilitating waterlogged plastic insulated multiconductor communications cables of the type employed in telephone systems.
40 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A process for removing aqueous contaminants from the interior free spaces of an insulated electrical device and for subsequently sealing said device against further water penetration comprising the steps of pumping into said device a composition comprising mineral oil, polyurethane precursor and coupling agent, said precursor comprising
(a) a polyol selected from the group consisting of castor oil, polyether polyols, hydroxyl bearing homopolymers of butadiene, hydroxyl bearing copolymers of butadiene and styrene, and combinations thereof, and (b) a polyisocyanate prepolymer prepared by reacting (i) polyisocyanate with (ii) a polyol selected from the group consisting of castor oil, polyether polyols, hydroxyl bearing homopolymers of butadiene, hydroxyl bearing copolymers of butadiene and styrene, and combinations thereof, wherein at least a portion of the polyol used in (a) and/or at least a portion of the polyol used in (b) (ii) is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl bearing homopolymers of butadiene and hydroxyl bearing copolymers of butadiene and styrene, said coupling agent being characterized by: -
(a) being miscible in all proportions with said mineral oil; (b) having a solubility parameter between 7.0 and 9.5; (c) having a hydrogen bonding index number in the range of from 6.0 to 12.0; and (d) being non-reactive with said polyurethane precursor, and reacting said polyol with said polyisocyanate prepolymer in the presence of said mineral oil and said coupling agent to obtain a cured, cross-linked, mineral oil extended polyurethane which is non-spewing and gel-like in consistency and which comprises from about 8 to about 45 parts of polyurethane, from about 25 to about 75 parts of mineral oil and from about 10 to about 35 parts of coupling agent, all parts expressed on a weight basis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for removing aqueous contaminants from the interior free spaces of an insulated electrical device and for subsequently sealing said device against further water penetration comprising the steps of pumping into said device a mineral oil extended polyurethane precursor in admixture with a coupling agent and reacting the polyurethane precursor to obtain a cured, cross-linked, mineral oil extended polyurethane which is non-spewing and gel-like in consistency and which comprises from about 8 to about 45 parts of polyurethane, from about 25 to about 75 parts of mineral oil and from about 10 to about 35 parts of coupling agent, all parts expressed on a weight basis, the cured, cross-linked polyurethane being characterized by the presence of a polybutadiene moiety in the polyurethane structure and said coupling agent being characterized by:
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(a) having a solubility parameter between 7.0 and 9.5; (b) having a hydrogen bonding index number in the range of from 6.0 to 12.0; being miscible in all proportions with said mineral oil; and (d) being non-reactive with said polyurethane precursor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification