NBC-resistant composition

• US 20050215661A1
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Vora, Krishnakant P.
• Application Number:
  US10/806,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215661A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 523/122
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0058 Biocides; macromolecular substances as carriers for biocide material A01N25/10
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0066 Flame-proofing or flame-retarding additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/16 Elastomeric ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers, e.g. EPR and EPDM rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/04 to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion by a separate adhesive layer G09F3/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/18 protected by sleeves, e.g. for communication cable two-part covers H02G15/10 ; preforms having internal stresses B29C61/00

Abstract

A composition including a terpolymer of an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, a flame retardant, and an antimicrobial agent.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

a terpolymer of an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer;

a flame retardant; and

an antimicrobial agent.

2. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a flame retardant synergist.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the flame retardant comprises 1,2 bis(tetrabromophthalimide) ethane.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises a salt complex of pyrithione.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein:

the terpolymer of the ethylene-propylene-diene monomer constitutes about 30.0% to about 80.0% by weight of the composition;

the flame retardant constitutes about 10.0% to about 30.0% by weight of the composition; and

the antimicrobial agent constitutes about 0.1% to about 0.4% by weight of the composition.

6. The composition of claim 1 further comprising filler material selected from silica, clay, and combinations thereof.

7. The composition of claim 6 further comprising a silane coupling agent.

8. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a peroxide.

9. The composition of claim 8 further comprising an acrylic co-agent.

10. The composition of claim 8 further comprising zinc oxide.

11. A composition of claim 1 further comprising:

a flame retardant synergist;

an antioxidant; and

hydrocarbon oil.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the flame retardant comprises 1,2 bis(tetrabromophthalimide) ethane.

13. The composition of claim 11, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises a salt complex of pyrithione.

14. The composition of claim 11, wherein:

the terpolymer of the ethylene-propylene-diene monomer constitutes about 30.0% to about 80.0% by weight of the composition;

the flame retardant constitutes about 10.0% to about 30.0% by weight of the composition;

the flame retardant synergist constitutes about 1.0% to about 4.0% by weight of the composition;

the antimicrobial agent constitutes about 0.1% to about 0.4% by weight of the composition;

the antioxidant constitutes about 0.5% to about 2.0% by weight of the composition; and

the hydrocarbon oil constitutes about 10.0% to about 25.0% by weight of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition.

15. The composition of claim 11 further comprising filler material selected from silica, clay, and combinations thereof.

16. The composition of claim 15 further comprising a silane coupling agent.

17. The composition of claim 11 further comprising a peroxide.

18. The composition of claim 17 further comprising an acrylic co-agent.

19. The composition of claim 17 further comprising zinc oxide.

20. The composition of claim 11 further comprising a pigment and an energy beam absorber.

21. The composition of claim 20, wherein the energy beam absorber comprises a laser beam absorber.

22. An article having a surface, the article comprising:

a mixture of a terpolymer of an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, a flame retardant, an antimicrobial agent, a pigment, and an energy beam absorber; and

focused energy beam-induced indicia located on the surface.

23. The article of claim 22, wherein the article comprises a tubular article, and wherein the surface comprises an outer surface.

24. The article of claim 22 further comprising a flame retardant synergist.

25. The article of claim 24, wherein the flame retardant comprises 1,2 bis(tetrabromophthalimide) ethane.

26. The article of claim 24, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises a salt complex of pyrithione.

27. The article of claim 22, wherein the focused energy beam comprises a laser, and wherein the energy beam absorber comprises a laser beam absorber.

28. A tubular article in an expanded state having an outer surface, the tubular article comprising:

a mixture comprising a terpolymer of an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, a flame retardant, an antimicrobial agent, a pigment, and an energy beam absorber; and

focused energy beam-induced indicia located on the outer surface, wherein the tubular article is capable of being placed in a relaxed state, and wherein the indicia is legible to an unaided eye of an individual with 20/20 vision located at least about 32 centimeters away from the indicia when the tubular article is in the expanded state and when the tubular article is in the relaxed state.

29. The article of claim 28 further comprising a flame retardant synergist.

30. The article of claim 28, wherein the energy beam absorber comprises a laser beam absorber.

31. A method of marking a tubular article having an outer surface, the method comprising:

providing the tubular article, the tubular article comprising a terpolymer of an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, a flame retardant, an antimicrobial agent, a pigment, and an energy beam absorber;

expanding the tubular article from a relaxed state to an expanded state;

forming indicia on the outer surface with a focused energy beam; and

allowing the tubular article to cold shrink from the expanded state.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein providing the tubular article comprises extruding and cross-linking a mixture that comprises the terpolymer of the ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, the flame retardant, the antimicrobial agent, the pigment, and the energy beam absorber to form the tubular article.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the focused energy beam comprises a laser beam.