Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article – Shaping against forming surface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-23
2004-04-06
Kuhns, Allan R. (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
Mechanical shaping or molding to form or reform shaped article
Shaping against forming surface
C264S045700, C264SDIG006
Reexamination Certificate
active
06716384
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a process for rotationally-molding articles of polyurethane composite and to the molded polyurethane composite articles which result. The polyurethane molding process of this invention provides an efficient, cost-effective means to produce hollow, molded articles of polyurethane composite.
BACKGROUND
Molded articles made of polyurethanes are well known in the art. Typical uses for molded polyurethanes include both solid and hollow articles such as bumpers, machine mounts, metal forming pads, scraper blades, seals, chute and hopper linings, cutting surfaces, wipers and gaskets. Currently most, if not all, commercially available polyurethane articles are formed using injection molding processes. Specifically, molded polyurethane articles are formed by a process known in the art as reaction injection molding (“RIM”) wherein molten, unpolymerized material is injected under high pressure and at high temperatures into molds or dies and allowed to “gel,” or cure. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,786 to Hurley et al., issued Jul. 23, 1996, entitled “Process for the preparation of filled urethane-based reinforced molding and the resultant products,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,432 also to Hurley et al., issued Nov. 21, 1995, entitled “Process for the preparation of filled urethane-based reinforced moldings.”
Reaction injection molding, although widely used, is a time-consuming and expensive process. RIM processes require expensive equipment having a large footprint. Molds must be made of heavy metal and be able to withstand the high pressures and the high temperatures utilized in the RIM process. In addition to the molds and injection apparatus, the RIM process requires large, heavy presses which are used to stabilize the molds when they are under high pressure. The necessary use of high temperatures and high pressures makes the molding process time-intensive; the time required to heat up and pressurize, then cool down and depressurize, the molds is, in most cases, longer than the time required to actually inject and first cure the article. Further, if a hollow article is desired, it must be molded in two pieces, which are subsequently affixed to one another. Thus, production time of hollow polyurethane articles is almost twice that of solid articles. Because of the costs of equipment, the energy costs of heating and pressurizing the mold and the time required to run the molding process and assemble the article, total production costs for a hollow reaction injection molded article are relatively high.
Another type of molding process, also well known in the art, is rotational molding, commonly referred to as “rotomolding.” Rotomolding is useful for molding hollow articles, but, as currently practiced in the art, is suitable only for molding non-polyurethane thermoplastics. Common rotomolded articles include toys, sporting goods and containers. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,045 to Steinberg et al., issued Nov. 13, 1990, entitled “Rotational molding of articles having impact resistance,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,392 to Strebel, “Compositions and process for rotational molding articles,” issued Nov. 3, 1998. The basic rotomolding process consists of: (1) placing the thermoplastic resin, in solid or liquid form, into a closed mold, (2) heating the mold until the resin melts or acquires proper flow characteristics, (3) simultaneously rotating the mold about two perpendicular axes, i.e., biaxially, until the resin uniformly coats the interior surfaces of the mold, (4) cooling the mold, and (5) removing the article from the mold. A general discussion of rotomolding techniques is provided in
Modern Plastics Encyclopedia,
1979-1980, vol. 56, No. 10A at page 381, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and in
Plastics Mold Engineering Handbook,
4th ed., VA Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1987, also incorporated herein by reference.
The production costs of conventional rotomolding using thermoplastics are somewhat less than those of RIM. However, because thermoplastic rotomolding requires the use of high temperatures, the process requires metal molds. The energy costs of heating the molds, the inconvenience of handling heavy, unwieldy metal molds, and the length first cure time all make the rotational molding of non-polyurethane thermoplastics, a less-than-ideal process from a commercial perspective.
Polyurethanes of the type suitable for molding, i.e., high-modulus elastomers, are well known in the art. Synthesis of such polyurethanes is carried out by the reaction of compounds containing isocyanate groups (either monomers, oligomers, or prepolymers) with hydroxy-containing compounds, or “polyols” (either monomers, oligomers, or prepolymers). The functionality of the isocyanate compounds and the hydroxy-containing compounds must be greater than or equal to two.
The precise compounds suitable for use in the preparation of polyurethanes are numerous, and will vary, depending on the characteristics desired in the finished molded article. Suitable hydroxy-containing compounds include polyesters, polyethers, polythioethers, polyacetals and polycarbonates. Suitable compounds containing isocyanate groups include the aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic polyisocyanates. Isocyanate-containing compounds are known, and are disclosed with further specificity in the art, see e.g., Allen, G. and J. Bevington, eds.,
Comprehensive Polymer Science: The Synthesis, Characterization, Reactions and Applications of Polymers
, vol. 5, 1989, at pages 413 to 426, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
As is well known in the art, the curing reaction for high-modulus elastomer polyurethane for use in molding or forming processes can be carried out using the “one-shot” approach. All ingredients (isocyanates, polyols with short-chain diol or amino chain extender and/or polyamines) are mixed simultaneously (in “one shot”), together with any other desired additives, such as fillers, catalysts, colorants, or plasticizers. The mixture is placed in a mold or other form and allowed to remain there until at least the first cure has been completed. First curing can be accomplished thermally, or, if the mixture contains high levels of mixed catalysts or appropriately fast-reacting isocyanates and active hydrogen-containing materials, curing can take place at room temperature. Such systems usually consist of two components: an “A” component, sometimes referred to as the “resin,” consisting of the polyol(s), catalysts, or polyamine(s), with a chain extender, as well as any of the desired additives, and a “B” component, sometimes referred to as the “hardener,” containing di- or polyisocyanates. Further discussion of the “one shot approach” to polyurethane preparation and compounds useful therein can be found in Allen, G. and J. Bevington, eds.,
Comprehensive Polymer Science: The Synthesis, Characterization, Reactions and Applications of Polymers
, vol. 5, 1989, at pages 413 to 426, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The inclusion of additives and/or process materials is well known as a means of modifying the finished properties of polyurethane materials. Additives are commonly used to increase the hardness of the material or augment its resistance to external stresses, such as ultraviolet light or bacteria. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,274 to Jonas, “Highly filled substantially solid polyurethane, urea and isocyanurate composites for indoor and outdoor applications, for load bearing structural and decorative products,” issued Oct. 1, 1991. Such additives may include glass fibers, ceramic microspheres, sodium bicarbonate or calcium bicarbonate. Colorants are also frequently added to aesthetically enhance the molded article. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,840 to Hugl et al., “Process for coloring polyurethane foams,” issued Jan. 2, 1979.
It would be highly desirable to develop a process of manufacture of hollow unitary polyurethane articles which would be more cost-effective and less time-intensive than conventional RI
Banks Teresa
Kuhns Allan R.
Wood Herron & Evans L.L.P.
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