Process for vulcanization of elastomer products

• US 4,382,052 A
• Filed: 10/16/1981
• Issued: 05/03/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Arimatsu, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Flint, Jr., J. Howard
• Application Number:
  US06/311,945
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 425/29, 425/30, 425/43, 425/33, 425/39, 425/40, 425/58, 425/35, 425/17, 425/19, 425/20, 425/21, 425/22, 425/23, 425/24, 425/25, 425/26, 264/37, 264/85, 264/315, 264/326
• US Class Current: 264/85
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/048 inert gas
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/1616 using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0294 using tempering units for temperature control of moulds or cores
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/049 using steam or damp
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/0675 Controlling the vulcanization processes
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/0601 Vulcanising tyres; Vulcanising presses for tyres
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733

Abstract

An improved process for vulcanization of elastomer products which includes the steps of heating under pressure, the elastomer product mounted in a metal mold by supplying vulcanizing medium, suspending the supply of the vulcanizing medium when the elastomer product has reached a predetermined temperature or passed through a predetermined time period, and subsequently supplying insert gas preliminarily extracted from atmospheric air and maintained at least under approximately the same pressure as that of the vulcanizing medium, up to the termination of the heating step so as to maintain the elastomer product at the predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. A process for vulcanization of elastomer products which comprises the steps of heating under pressure, the elastomer product mounted in a metal mold by supplying thereto vulcanizing medium, suspending the supply of said vulcanizing medium when said elastomer product has reached a predetermined temperature or passed through a predetermined time period, and subsequently supplying inert gas preliminarily extracted from atmospheric air with use of molecular sieves, and maintained at least under approximately the same pressure as that of said vulcanizing medium as a heat retaining medium, up to the termination of remaining time period for the heating step so as to maintain the elastomer product at said predetermined temperature.

2. A process for vulcanization as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vulcanizing medium and inert gas are arranged to be supplied into the elastomer product through an expandable bag-like member.

3. A process for vulcanization as claimed in claim 1, or 2, wherein said molecular sieves are made of carbon.

4. A process for vulcanization as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said inert gas has oxygen concentration therein, of less than approximately 1000 ppm.

5. A process for vulcanization as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said inert gas has oxygen concentration therein, of less than approximately 50 ppm.

6. A process for vulcanization as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said inert gas has oxygen concentration therein, of approximately 4 to 5 ppm.