Reversible crosslinked foam article and process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026008896-A1
Application number	US-202318992462-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2023
Priority date	Jul 15, 2022
Publication date	Jan 8, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a foam article. In an embodiment, the foam article includes a crosslinked foam composition formed from starting materials comprising (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based polymer, a polar ethylene-based polymer, and combinations thereof, and (ii) 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl methacrylate disulfide (BiTEMPS) methacrylate. This yields a foam article that is composed of a crosslinked composition comprising (i) the polymer selected from the group consisting of the ethylene-based polymer, the polar ethylene-based polymer, and combinations thereof, and (ii) linkages having a Structure (2) below

First claim

1 . A foam article comprising:
a crosslinked foam composition formed from starting materials comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based polymer, a polar ethylene-based polymer and combinations thereof; and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl methacrylate disulfide (BiTEMPS methacrylate).

2 . The foam article of claim 1 wherein the crosslinked foam composition comprises
the polymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based polymer, a polar ethylene-based polymer and combinations thereof; and
linkages having a Structure (2)

3 . The foam article of claim 1 wherein the polymer is an ethylene-based polymer.

4 . The foam article of claim 3 wherein the ethylene-based polymer is an ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer.

5 . The foam article of claim 4 wherein the crosslinked composition is formed from starting materials comprising:
from 50 wt % to 99 wt % of the ethylene/α-olefin multi-block copolymer; and
from 1 wt % to 15 wt % of the BiTEMPS (methacrylate).

6 . The foam article of claim 2 wherein the polymer is a polar ethylene-based polymer.

7 . The foam article of claim 6 wherein the polar ethylene-based polymer is ethylene vinyl acetate.

8 . The foam article of claim 7 wherein the crosslinked composition is formed from starting materials comprising
from 50 wt % to 99 wt % of the ethylene vinyl acetate; and
from 1 wt % to 15 wt % of the BiTEMPS (methacrylate).

9 . The foam article of claim 1 , wherein the foam article has a property selected from the group consisting of
a density from 0.05 g/cc to 0.3 g/cc, a tensile strength from 0.7 MPa to 4 MPa, a rebound from 40% to 90%, a hardness (Asker C) from 5 to 60, and combinations thereof.

10 . A foam article comprising:
a crosslinked composition comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based polymer, a polar ethylene-based polymer and combinations thereof; and linkages having a Structure (2)

11 . A process comprising:
heating a foam article to a reprocessing temperature, the foam article composed of a crosslinked composition comprising (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based polymer, a polar ethylene-based polymer and combinations thereof; and (ii) linkages having a Structure (2)

forming, at the reprocessing temperature, the foam article into a re-processable polymer composition;
shaping, at the reprocessing temperature, the re-processable polymer composition into a re-processed pre-form;
cooling the re-processed pre-form to below the reprocessing temperature; and
forming a second article composed of a re-crosslinked polymer composition composed of
(i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of the ethylene-based polymer, the polar ethylene-based polymer and combinations thereof; and
(ii) linkages having the structure (2).

12 . The process of claim 11 wherein the polymer is an ethylene-based polymer.

13 . The process of claim 11 wherein the polymer is a polar ethylene-based polymer.

Assignees

• Dow Global Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Lyu Bo
• Li Pi Shan Colin
• Sun Yabin
• Brown Hayley A
• Hall Ryan
• Wu Gaoxiang

Classifications

• C09D123/06

  Polyethylene · CPC title

• C09D7/63

  organic · CPC title

• D10B2321/021

  polyethylene · CPC title

• D04H1/62

  at spaced points or locations · CPC title

• D04H1/587

  characterised by the bonding agents used · CPC title