Cellulose ester and elastomer compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12077656-B2
Application number	US-201917261330-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Jul 19, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A composition is provided comprising a cellulose ester component that comprises at least one cellulose ester; and an elastomeric component that comprises at least one elastomer, where the elastomeric component comprises 30 wt % or more of the composition, and where the composition is thermoplastic. Processes for producing the compositions as well as articles made using these compositions, such as automotive interior components, are also provided.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A composition comprising a blend of a cellulose ester component that comprises at least one cellulose ester chosen from cellulose propionate (CP), cellulose butyrate (CB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose propionate butyrate (CPB), cellulose tripropionate (CTP), cellulose tributyrate (CTB), or a combination thereof, wherein the at least one cellulose ester has a relative viscosity (η rel ) of greater than 6.0 to 9.0, measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 2 wt % solution of the at least one cellulose ester in acetone according to ASTM D4603; and an elastomeric component that comprises at least one elastomer chosen from polyether block amides (PEBA), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), styrenic block copolymer elastomers, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPO), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPC), other thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPA), or a combination thereof, wherein the cellulose ester component is present in an amount from 40 to 60 weight percent and the elastomeric component is present in an amount from 40 to 60 weight percent, based on the total amount of composition, and wherein the composition is thermoplastic, has a hardness in the range from 65 to 95 Shore A, and has a volatile content of 2 wt % or less measured according to the VDA 278 test method.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is thermoplastic and melt-processible over a temperature range from about 175° C. up to the degradation temperature.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is multi-phased.

4. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric component is a continuous phase and the cellulose ester component is a dispersed phase.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric component and cellulose ester component are miscible.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the cellulose ester component comprises of a blend of two or more of the different cellulose esters.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric component comprises an elastomer that is chemically modified.

8. The composition according to claim 7 , wherein the elastomer is chosen from maleic anhydride-grafted elastomers, acrylic copolymers, block copolymers, or combinations thereof.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric component comprises a combination of non-functionalized and functionalized elastomers.

10. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric component is an SEBS elastomer, a maleic anhydride modified SEBS elastomer, or a combination thereof.

11. The composition according to claim 10 , wherein the cellulose ester is CAP.

12. A film or sheet comprising a composition according to claim 1 .

13. A method of making the composition of claim 1 , comprising combining the elastomeric component and the cellulose ester component and mixing with sufficient energy to provide a stable dispersion.

14. An article comprising a composition according to claim 1 , wherein said article is chosen from a vehicle interior component, an upholstery fabric, or a soft-feel covering.

15. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition has a hardness in the range from 70 to 90 Shore A (measured as described in the specification).

16. A composition comprising a blend of a cellulose ester component that comprises at least one cellulose ester chosen from cellulose propionate (CP), cellulose butyrate (CB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose propionate butyrate (CPB), cellulose tripropionate (CTP), cellulose tributyrate (CTB), or a combination thereof, wherein the cellulose esters have a relative viscosity (η rel ) of greater than 6.0 to 9.0, measured at a temperature of 25° C. for a 2 wt % solution of the cellulose ester in acetone according to ASTM D4603; and an elastomeric component that comprises at least one elastomer, wherein the elastomeric component is present in an amount from 40 to 60 weight percent, based on the total composition, wherein the elastomeric component and cellulose ester component are miscible, and wherein the composition is thermoplastic, has a hardness in the range from 65 to 95 Shore A (measured as described in the specification), and has a volatile content of 2 wt % or less measured according to the VDA 278 test method.

17. The composition according to claim 16 , wherein the elastomer is a TPU.

18. The composition according to claim 17 , wherein the composition has a volatile content of 1 wt % or less, measured according to the VDA 278 test method.

Assignees

• Eastman Chem Co

Inventors

• Williamson Brandon Robert
• Weaver Laura Bauerle
• Xu Jingjing
• Donelson Michael Eugene

Classifications

• C08L2207/04

  Thermoplastic elastomer · CPC title

• C08L75/04

  Polyurethanes · CPC title

• C08J2301/14

  Mixed esters · CPC title

• C08J5/18

  Manufacture of films or sheets · CPC title

• C08J3/005

  Processes for mixing polymers · CPC title