Elastomer compositions for use in a hydrocarbon resistant hose

Abstract

A heat tolerant, pressure resistant elastomeric composition comprising a blend of a first ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer and a second copolymer selected from the group consisting of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), polychloroprene (CR), ethylene-acrylic elastomer (AEM), alkyl-acrylate copolymer (ACM), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), and mixtures thereof; a hose manufactured therefrom; and a method for preparing the hose are described.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 830,790, filed Apr. 21, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 663,324 filed Sep. 15, 2003.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to polymeric compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to polymeric compositions useful in the manufacture of automotive components, particularly automotive hoses for the transport of automotive fluids. [0003] Hoses, particularly rubber hoses, are used in a variety of applications in the automotive industry as fuel feed hoses, torque converter hoses, power steering hoses and air conditioner hoses; as well as for industrial and household utility applications such as hydraulic hoses, refrigeration hoses, washing machine hoses, propane gas feed hoses, high pressure air hoses, garden hoses, etc. [0004] It is generally known that rubber surfaces do not always exhibit desired resi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] It has now been discovered that blends of an ethylene-vinyl ester, e.g., vinyl acetate, with certain other polymers, particularly, ethylene-acrylic elastomers (AEM) or alkyl-acrylate copolymer (ACM) or mixtures thereof, not only provide a material for use in the manufacture of hoses which meet government standards with regard to permeability rates, has good tensile strength, has good oil resistance, and has good heat and pressure resistance, but such blends, unexpectedly, do not show the typical effects of dilution. Such blends exhibit desirable characteristics which unexpectedly retain the desirable characteristic of the individual polymers when used alone. That is, the blend of polymers exhibits the beneficial properties of each polymer without the undesirable effects of dilution.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hose especially useful if the automotive industry to transport fuel, oil and various fluids. The hose of the present invention is manufactured from a blend of a first vinyl ester copolymer and a second copolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic elastomer (AEM), alkyl-acrylate copolymer (ACM), and mixtures thereof. As indicated above, other polymers such as chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), polychloroprene (CR), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), and the like may be employed in addition to or in place of the ethylene-acrylic elastomer or alkyl acrylate copolymer, but such other polymers are only marginally effective. Most preferably, the present invention is directed to a blend of ethylene-vinyl ester, such as vinyl acetate, and an ethylene acrylic elastomer or alkyl acrylate copolymer. The automotive components formed from such ethylene-vinyl ester copolymers blended with an ethylene-acrylic elastomer, alkyl acrylate, or mixture thereof, exhibits excellent oil resistance, fuel impermeability, temperature and pressure resistance, and tensile strength.

Problems solved by technology

However, the blending of two ore more of these materials to obtain the beneficial characteristics of each material, more often than not, is only marginally successful, because the blending of the two materials simply dilutes their characteristics in the blend as compared to the individual components alone.

It has now been discovered that blends of an ethylene-vinyl ester, e.g., vinyl acetate, with certain other polymers, particularly, ethylene-acrylic elastomers (AEM) or alkyl-acrylate copolymer (ACM) or mixtures thereof, not only provide a material for use in the manufacture of hoses which meet government standards with regard to permeability rates, has good tensile strength, has good oil resistance, and has good heat and pressure resistance, but such blends, unexpectedly, do not show the typical effects of dilution.

Other polymeric materials may be employed in place of, or in combination with, the ethylene-acrylic elastomer or alkyl acrylate copolymer; however, such other polymers when blended with ethylene-vinyl acetate are only marginally effective Most notably, these other polymers include chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), polychloroprene (CR), ethylene-acrylic elastomer (AEM), alkyl-acrylate copolymer (ACM), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber (HNBR), and the like.