FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND DEVICE MANUFACTURED WITH SAID MATERIAL

Abstract

A flexible composite material (4) characterized in that it comprises an elastomeric binder with pieces of solid elastomer.

Description

FLEXIBLE COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND DEVICE MANUFACTURED WITH SAID MATERIAL OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as stated in the present descriptive memorandum, refers to a flexible composite material and a device made with said material, which provide advantages and characteristics, described in detail below, that represent an improvement over the current state of the art. The object of the present invention is a flexible composite material of the particle-reinforced flexible material type, formed from the bonding of an elastomer, such as silicone, acting as a binder, with solid elastomer fragments, such as solid silicone. The composite material may also comprise particles of higher density than the binding elastomer, such as an aggregate or metal particles, as well as particles of a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular), such as cork or an expanded or foamed polymer. This composite material of the invention is distinguished from other materials, such as "silexpan®", which also comprises an elastomer, such as silicone as a binder, with particles of higher density than the binder elastomer, such as an aggregate or metal particles, as well as particles of a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular), such as cork or an expanded or foamed polymer, by exhibiting faster recovery of the original shape, as well as being more environmentally sustainable as it can be manufactured with pieces of recycled solid elastomer, such as recycled silicone. The invention also relates to a device, such as a sex toy like a dildo, made from said flexible composite material. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of polymer materials, encompassing at the same time a wide range of industries, as it is a material applicable to fields as diverse as thermal, acoustic and electrical insulators, everyday objects, mattresses, packaging, impact absorption protection elements, masks, dolls, props as well as massagers, stimulators and sex toys. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, according to document ES2700293A1, whose holder is the applicant of the present invention, a composite material is known, commercially known by the trade name "silexpan®", which consists of an elastomer, preferably siloxane or silicone, which acts as a binder, particles of a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular), such as cork or an expanded or foamed polymer, and particles of higher density than the binder elastomer, such as an aggregate or metal particles. The composite material that includes the three components, marketed under the name "silexpan®", although it satisfactorily fulfills the objective of providing a highly flexible, elastic and resistant material, with less weight and a lower price than those made of pure silicone, presents aspects susceptible to being improved. For example, the composite material that includes the three components, marketed under the name "silexpan®", exhibits a slow return to its original shape after deformation. While this characteristic is desirable for certain applications, it should be avoided in others. Furthermore, devices made with the composite material that includes the three components, marketed under the name "silexpan®", present certain limitations when industrialized and are therefore not viable for certain applications. It would also be desirable to have another composite material that allows the use of a large percentage of recycled materials, such as recycled silicone. The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a new composite material that solves the indicated areas for improvement and that continues to provide the advantages of the known composite material. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The flexible composite material proposed by the invention is configured as an optimal solution to achieve the objectives mentioned above while also representing an improvement over the current state of the art, with the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description. Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously mentioned, is a flexible material composed from the union of an elastomer, such as silicone or liquid silicone, which acts as an elastomer binder, and pieces of solid elastomer, such as solid silicone. Preferably, the percentage of solid elastomer pieces relative to the total weight of the flexible composite material is more than 50% and preferably less than 90%. The percentage of solid elastomer pieces relative to the total weight of the flexible composite material may be between more than 50% and 80%, or between 60% and 75%. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible composite material further comprises particles of higher density than the binding elastomer, such as an aggregate or metal particles. Preferably, the percentage of pieces of particles with a higher density than the binding elastomer, relative to the weight of the total flexible composite material, is between 5 and 30%. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible composite material further comprises particles of a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular). The particles of a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) can be, for example, cork or an expanded or foamed polymer such as EPP, EPE or EPS. Preferably, the percentage of low-density material particles composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) relative to the weight of the total flexible composite material is between 5 and 15%. In one specific embodiment of the invention, the flexible composite material comprises an elastic binder with: • pieces of solid elastomer of more than 50% by weight, and preferably less than 90% by weight, relative to the total weight of the layer (4), • particles of higher density than the binding elastomer, between 5 and 30% by weight of the total weight of the layer (4), and • particles of low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) between 3-15% by weight relative to the total weight of the layer (4). As announced, another object of the invention is a device comprising a layer of the described composite material. In one embodiment of the invention, the composite material layer is coated by an outer layer of a flexible elastomer, such as silicone. In a more concrete embodiment of the invention, the device comprises an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer can, for example, prevent a reaction between the composite material layer and the outer layer. The intermediate layer can regulate the feel or sensation of the device. Preferably, the intermediate layer is made of a composite material consisting of an elastomeric binder with particles of higher density than the elastomeric binder, and / or a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) arranged between the flexible composite material layer and the outer layer. This intermediate layer may be made of "silexpan®". Although the thickness of each layer can vary, preferably the middle layer has a thickness of between 4-10mm and more preferably between 5-8mm. Preferably, the outer layer has a thickness of between 1-5mm and more preferably between 2-3mm. In one embodiment of the invention, the device contains a core of greater rigidity than the rest of the layers, which acts as a reinforcement of the whole. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive document is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by sheets of drawings in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes: Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of an example of the embodiment of the multi-layer composite flexible material that is the subject of the invention, showing the configuration and arrangement of its layers. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the described figure 1 and only, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, an example of the embodiment of a device made with the flexible composite material of the invention can be observed, which comprises what is described in detail below. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the device (1) of the invention comprises at least: • a layer of composite material (4), and • an outer layer (3) , formed of a flexible elastomer that externally covers the composite material layer (4) . The composite material layer (4) comprises an elastomeric binder with solid elastomer pieces. Preferably, the elastomeric binder is silicone or liquid silicone and the solid elastomer pieces are made of recycled silicone. Optionally, the composite material layer (4) comprises particles of higher density than the binding elastomer, and / or particles of a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular). In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises an intermediate layer (2). Preferably, the intermediate layer (2) is made of a composite material consisting of an elastomeric binder with particles of higher density than the elastomeric binder, and a low-density material consisting of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) arranged between the composite material layer (4) and the outer layer (3). Optionally, the device includes inside a core (5) of greater rigidity than the other layers (2, 3, 4) that acts as a reinforcement of the assembly. Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field can understand its scope and the advantages that derive from it.

Claims

1. A flexible composite material (4) characterized in that it comprises an elastomeric binder with pieces of solid elastomer.

2. A flexible composite material (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastomeric binder is silicone or liquid silicone.

3. A flexible composite material (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pieces of solid elastomer are made of recycled silicone.

4. A flexible composite material (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight percentage of the solid elastomer pieces relative to the total weight of the flexible composite material (4) is more than 50% and preferably less than 90%.

5. A flexible composite material (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises particles of higher density than the binder elastomer. 6.Flexible composite material (4) according to claim 5, characterized in that the weight percentage of particles with a higher density than the binding elastomer relative to the total weight of the flexible composite material (4) is between 5 and 30%.

7. Flexible composite material (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises particles of a low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular).

8. Flexible composite material (4) according to claim 7, characterized in that the weight percentage of the particles of low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) relative to the total weight of the flexible composite material (4) is between 3 and 15%. 9.A flexible composite material (4) according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that it comprises an elastomeric binder with: - pieces of solid elastomer of more than 50% by weight, and preferably less than 90% by weight, of the total weight of the layer (4), - particles of higher density than the binder elastomer of between 5-30% by weight of the total weight of the layer (4), and - particles of low-density material composed of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) of between 3-15% by weight of the total weight of the layer (4).

10. A device (1) characterized in that it comprises: - a layer of composite material (4) according to any of the preceding claims, and - an outer layer (3), formed of a flexible elastomer that externally covers the layer of composite material (4). 11.Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate layer (2).

12. Device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the intermediate layer (2) is made of a composite material consisting of an elastomeric binder with particles of higher density than the elastomeric binder and / or particles of a low-density material consisting of a solid matrix (natural or polymeric) containing a high proportion of air or gas in the form of small cells (cellular) arranged between the composite material layer (4) and the outer layer (3).

13. Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the outer layer (3) has a thickness of between 1-5 mm and preferably between 2-3 mm.

14. Device (1) according to any of claims 11-12, characterized in that the intermediate layer (2) has a thickness of between 4-10 mm and preferably between 5-8 mm. 15.Device (1), according to any of claims 10-14 characterized in that it comprises inside a core (5) of greater rigidity than the other layers (2, 3, 4) which acts as a reinforcement of the assembly.