James L Shell

US Patent:

6365663, Apr 2, 2002

Filed:

Sep 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/407737

Inventors:

Melinda Ann Mabry - Newton MA
Ting Wang - Billerica MA
Ivan Zlatko Podobnik - Hudson NH
James A. Shell - Suwanee GA
Allan Clark Morgan - Manchester MA
Bin Chung - Nashua NH
Noboru Tokita - Woodbridge CT

Assignee:

Cabot Corporation - Boston MA

International Classification:

C08K 300

US Classification:

524495, 524496

Abstract:

Elastomer composite blends are produced by novel wet/dry mixing methods and apparatus. In the wet mixing step or stage, fluid streams of particulate filler and elastomer latex are fed to the mixing zone of a coagulum reactor to form a mixture in semi-confined flow continuously from the mixing zone through a coagulum zone to a discharge end of the reactor. The particulate filler fluid is fed under high pressure to the mixing zone, such as to form a jet stream to entrain elastomer latex fluid sufficiently energetically to substantially completely coagulate the elastomer with the particulate filler prior to the discharge end. Highly efficient and effective elastomer coagulation is achieved without the need for a coagulation step involving exposure to acid or salt solution or the like. Novel elastomer composites are produced. Such novel elastomer composites may be cured or uncured, and combine material properties, such as choice of filler, elastomer, level of filler loading, and macro-dispersion, not previously achieved.