Method for manufacturing articles made from crumb rubber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11878446-B2
Application number	US-201917414077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2019
Priority date	Dec 19, 2018
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

A process for manufacturing an article made of recovered rubber crumb is provided. According to the process:a) crumb particles are mixed with particles of a solute;b) a molded article is produced by molding the mixture from step a) in a closed mold under predetermined temperature and pressure conditions; andc) the molded article is brought into contact with a solvent so as to dissolve at least one portion of the particles of said solute.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for manufacturing an article made of recovered rubber crumb, wherein:
a) crumb particles are mixed with particles of a solute;
b) a molded article is produced by sintering the mixture from step a) alone in a mold under predetermined temperature and pressure conditions;
c) the molded article is brought into contact with a solvent so as to dissolve at least one portion of the particles of said solute.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the crumb particles have an average size of less than 800 μm.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the average size of the particles of the solute is equal to or less than that of the crumb particles.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the proportion of solute in the mixture is between 1% and 80% of the total mass of the mixture.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said solvent is water and said solute is selected from: salt, a saccharide, a water-soluble protein or a water-soluble polymer.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the molded article from step b) obtained with a first mixture from step a) is placed in a second mold, introduced into which is a second mixture of crumb particles and said solute having a composition different from that of the first mixture, and a new molded article is then produced from the two mixtures.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the mixture is introduced into the mold and is subjected to a nominal temperature of between 100° C. and 150° C. and to a nominal pressure of between 20 and 200 bar for a time of between 2 and 15 minutes.

8. A process according to claim 7 , wherein the mixture is introduced into the mold and is subjected to a nominal temperature of 120° C., at a pressure of 100 bar for a period of 10 minutes.

9. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the process comprises a step of cooling the molded article in the mold.

Assignees

• Michelin & Cie

Inventors

• Pialot Frédéric
• Merino Lopez José

Classifications

• B09B3/35

  Shredding, crushing or cutting · CPC title

• B09B3/32

  Compressing or compacting · CPC title

• B09B3/70 Primary

  Chemical treatment, e.g. pH adjustment or oxidation (involving an extraction step B09B3/80) · CPC title

• B29C43/006 Primary

  Pressing and sintering powders, granules or fibres · CPC title

• B29B13/10

  by grinding, e.g. by triturating; by sieving; by filtering · CPC title