Environment-friendly scientific and technological rubber ball and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The preparation method comprises the following steps: S1, sizing an inflatable liner to a required diameter, and wrapping the outer surface of an inflatable liner layer with a winding layer to obtain a yarn liner; or wrapping the winding layer with a base material layer of a cloth base to obtain a gauze liner; s2, selecting a low-temperature-resistant rubber material, mixing, calendaring to obtain a rubber sheet, cooling, shrinking and cutting the rubber sheet into a required sheet shape, pasting the rubber sheet into a forming die which is provided with a corresponding sheet type and an air suction hole, putting the forming die into a gauze liner, and automatically bonding by using a forming machine to prepare an unvulcanized ball body; and S3, putting the ball body into a vulcanization mold, and performing low-pressure and low-temperature vulcanization to prepare the high-grade rubber ball. Through low-temperature and low-pressure vulcanization, the flexibility, the stability and the color performance of the rubber ball, especially the color of fluorescent rubber, are reserved, and the color of the low-temperature vulcanized rubber is brighter. The ball body subjected to low-temperature vulcanization has lower hardness and higher experimental rebound height, which indicates that the rubber ball disclosed by the invention has higher elasticity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of rubber technology, specifically to an environmentally friendly rubber ball and its preparation method. Background Art

[0002] A rubber ball is a spherical object made of natural or synthetic rubber. It has strong elasticity and flexibility and can be used in various sports, games, or as a toy. Rubber balls are mainly made of natural or synthetic rubber. These rubber materials undergo a series of processing steps, such as heating, adding additives, mixing, extrusion, cooling, and vulcanization, to become a complete rubber ball.

[0003] Current rubber basketballs are generally molded in one piece using a high-temperature, high-pressure vulcanization process. However, due to limitations in vulcanization mold design, the air nozzles must be positioned within the grooves to accommodate the equipment structure, resulting in insufficient product design flexibility. Furthermore, due to the constraints of the vulcanization system, the surface particle height is typically controlled within the range of 0.8-1.2mm, with particle spacing of 0.2-0.5mm. Exceeding these parameters can easily lead to molding defects such as missing material (missing size), limiting the potential for improving the tactile feel. In addition, the dense rubber layer formed by the vulcanization process generally has a high surface smoothness, which can easily lead to insufficient grip in humid environments. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an environmentally friendly rubber ball and its preparation method.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this invention provides a method for preparing an environmentally friendly rubber ball, comprising the following steps:

[0006] S1. The air bladder is sized to the required diameter, and a winding layer is wrapped around the outer surface of the air bladder layer to obtain a gauze bladder; or a base material layer with a cloth backing is wrapped around the winding layer to obtain a gauze bladder.

[0007] S2. Select low-temperature resistant rubber materials, mix them, calender them into rubber sheets, cool and shrink them to cut them into the required sheet shape, attach them to the molding mold with the corresponding sheet shape and air suction holes, then put in the yarn or gauze liner, and use the automatic bonding of the molding machine to form unvulcanized spheres.

[0008] S3. Place the ball into a vulcanizing mold and vulcanize it under low pressure and low temperature to make a high-grade rubber ball.

[0009] In some embodiments, the material of the winding layer is one or more of cotton yarn, polyester yarn, nylon yarn, staple polyester yarn, long-fiber polyester yarn, nylon N6 yarn, or nylon N66 yarn, and the substrate layer is one of non-woven fabric, dustproof cloth, polyester fabric, or fleece.

[0010] In some embodiments, the low-temperature resistant adhesive used comprises the following raw materials in parts by weight: 60-100 parts of adhesive materials, 30-60 parts of filler materials, and 10-30 parts of additives;

[0011] The rubber materials include natural rubber, butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber and synthetic rubber SBR; the filler materials include calcium carbonate, silica, zinc oxide, stearic acid, cellulose, recycled fibers; the additives include adhesive resins, protective waxes, rubber flow venting agents, antioxidants, anti-aging agents, ointments, closed-cell foaming agents, sulfur and a number of color rubbers.

[0012] The closed-cell foaming agent used is azodicarbonamide (AC), or dibenzenesulfonyl hydrazine ether (OBSH) or the chemical foaming agent carbon dioxide.

[0013] In some embodiments, the design of the vulcanizing mold used in step S3 must meet the following conditions:

[0014] 1) Air nozzle: The air nozzle is located in the middle of the sheet, which is evenly divided into upper and lower molds. The inflation position is in the middle of the sheet, and the inflation tube is inserted at an angle. There must be a gap between the inner mold and the outer mold.

[0015] 2) Anti-slip and dustproof particle design: Particle size 1.5-2.5MM, shape: the particle surface is flat and round, the arrangement is random and irregular, and the gap between particles is 0.8-1.5MM;

[0016] 3) Rib groove: Rib groove is provided at the splicing point of the rubber sheet; the rib groove has particles or is a smooth surface without particles.

[0017] In some embodiments, the air nozzle is located in the middle of the groove, the upper and lower molds are evenly divided in the center, and the air inlet is located at the mold closing position.

[0018] In some embodiments, the surface of the particles is engraved with different patterns.

[0019] In some embodiments, the vulcanization conditions in step S3 are: low pressure 6-9 kgf / cm2 (0.6-0.9 MPa) and low temperature 140-160°C.

[0020] Due to the adoption of the above technical solutions, the beneficial effects of the present invention include:

[0021] 1. This application improves the uniformity of touch by adjusting the vulcanization temperature and nozzle positioning, and enhancing the distribution of raised particles, thereby comprehensively solving the problems of limited position, particle defects, and excessive hardness of traditional basketball nozzles.

[0022] 2. This application preserves the flexibility, stability, and color properties of the rubber ball through low-temperature and low-pressure vulcanization, especially in terms of fluorescent rubber color, the low-temperature vulcanized rubber has a brighter color.

[0023] 3. The low-temperature vulcanized spheres have lower hardness and higher experimental rebound height, indicating that the rubber spheres of the present invention have higher elasticity. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rubber basketball described in Example 1;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rubber basketball described in Example 2;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rubber basketball described in Example 3;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rubber basketball described in Example 4;

[0028] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the vulcanization process of a rubber basketball;

[0029] The reference numerals used in the above figures are explained as follows:

[0030] 1. Inflatable bladder layer; 2. Winding layer; 3. Substrate layer; 4. Rubber outer layer; 5. Rib groove; 6. Air nozzle. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The following description, in conjunction with specific embodiments, provides further details, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the preparation method of the environmentally friendly rubber ball includes the following steps:

[0034] S1: Preparation of wear-resistant low-temperature rubber compounds

[0035] Mix the rubber materials (70 parts natural rubber, 10 parts styrene-butadiene rubber, 10 parts synthetic rubber SBR) and filler materials (20 parts calcium carbonate, 5 parts silica, 10 parts zinc oxide, 5 parts stearic acid, 10 parts cellulose, 10 parts recycled fiber) in a mixing mill according to the specified ratio, then open-mill and cut into rubber sheets. Add the auxiliary materials (5 parts tackifying resin, 2 parts protective wax, 2 parts flow venting agent PW, 3 parts naphthenic oil, 1 part antioxidant, 2 parts anti-aging agent, 2 parts accelerator BZ, 1 part accelerator PZ, 3 parts foaming agent AC, 2 parts sulfur, and a certain amount of coloring agent) to the rubber sheets and open-mill and turn the material evenly from side to side for 5-10 minutes. The open mill has a temperature control: 50-80℃. Avoid scorching due to excessive temperature and poor softness of rubber due to excessively low temperature, which will affect the quality of the finished product.

[0036] After the rubber compound is rolled and calendered into rubber sheets, the finished rubber sheets need to be immediately sent to an air-conditioned room below 25°C to cool and wait for use. The rubber sheets are left to cool and stand for 4 hours before use.

[0037] S2: Gauze Liner Making

[0038] The inflatable tire is sized to the required diameter, and then a certain length of yarn is wound around the inflatable bladder layer. The yarn material can be one of cotton yarn, polyester yarn, nylon yarn, short fiber polyester yarn, long fiber polyester yarn, nylon N6 yarn, or nylon N66 yarn. Then, a base layer made of non-woven fabric is wrapped around the winding layer to obtain the gauze bladder.

[0039] S3: Advanced Rubber Ball Molding

[0040] Cut the film made in step S1 into the required pieces, attach them to the forming mold with the corresponding piece shape and air suction holes, then put in a gauze bladder, and use the automatic bonding of the forming machine to form an unvulcanized sphere. The forming mold features an air nozzle designed in the middle of the piece shape.

[0041] S4: Unvulcanized rubber balls are vulcanized using a vulcanizing machine to obtain vulcanized high-grade rubber basketball balls.

[0042] 1) Vulcanization mold design:

[0043] A: Valve design:

[0044] The air nozzle is in the middle of the sheet, the upper and lower molds of the sheet are evenly divided, the air inflation position is in the middle of the sheet, the air inflation tube is inserted at an angle, and there must be a gap between the inner mold and the outer mold to facilitate the circulation of steam and cooling water. Therefore, in order to prevent steam and cooling water leakage, the inner mold and the outer mold are made into one piece. The place where the air inflation tube is inserted is made into a channel. Steel or aluminum material suitable for welding should be selected to make the vulcanization mold.

[0045] B: Anti-slip and dustproof particle design

[0046] Particle size 1.5-2.5MM, shape: the surface of the particles is flat and round, and the arrangement is random and irregular. The gap between particles is 0.8-1.5MM. Larger particle designs are available. Patterns such as net patterns, hexagonal patterns, wave patterns, lightning patterns, and dart patterns can also be engraved on the surface of the particles.

[0047] C: Rib Groove Design

[0048] The groove design incorporates the curvature of the thinned leather section used to glue the basketball to the leather; the groove surface has a granular texture.

[0049] S5: Low-temperature, low-pressure vulcanization

[0050] Unvulcanized spheres are placed on a vulcanizing machine equipped with a vulcanizing mold for vulcanization. The vulcanizing air pressure is 6-9 kgf / cm2 (0.6-0.9 MPa), and the low temperature is 140-150℃.

[0051] Example 2

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, unlike Example 1, in which... Figure 2 (a) The air nozzle is located in the middle of the plate, and the surface of the groove has particles or no particles. Figure 2 (b) The air nozzle is located in the middle of the groove, and the surface of the groove is free of particles; Figure 2 (c) The air nozzle is located in the middle of the groove, and there are particles on the surface of the groove.

[0053] Example 3

[0054] like Figure 3 As shown, the preparation method of the environmentally friendly rubber ball includes the following steps:

[0055] S1: Preparation of wear-resistant low-temperature rubber compounds

[0056] Mix rubber materials (65 parts natural rubber, 10 parts nitrile rubber, 20 parts synthetic rubber SBR) and filler materials (15 parts calcium carbonate, 8 parts silica, 15 parts zinc oxide, 5 parts stearic acid, 10 parts cellulose, 15 parts recycled fiber) in a mixing mill according to the specified proportions. Then, grind the mixture into rubber sheets. Add auxiliary materials (6 parts tackifying resin, 3 parts protective wax, 3 parts flow venting agent PW, 3 parts naphthenic oil, 1 part antioxidant, 2 parts anti-aging agent, 2 parts accelerator BZ, 1.5 parts accelerator PZ, 4 parts foaming agent AC, 2 parts sulfur, and a certain amount of colorant) to the rubber sheets and grind them evenly, turning them left and right evenly for 7-12 minutes. The grinding mill has temperature control: 60-80℃.

[0057] After the rubber compound is rolled and calendered into rubber sheets, the finished rubber sheets need to be immediately sent to an air-conditioned room below 25°C to cool and wait for use. The rubber sheets are left to cool and stand for 4 hours before use.

[0058] S2: Fabrication of the gauze padding

[0059] The inflatable tire is sized to the required diameter, and then a certain length of yarn is wound around the inflatable bladder layer. The yarn material can be one of cotton yarn, polyester yarn, nylon yarn, short-fiber polyester yarn, long-fiber polyester yarn, nylon N6 yarn, or nylon N66 yarn to obtain the yarn bladder.

[0060] S3: Advanced Rubber Ball Molding

[0061] Cut the film made in step S1 into the required pieces, attach them to the forming mold with the corresponding piece shape and air suction holes, then put in the yarn core, and use the automatic bonding of the forming machine to form an unvulcanized sphere; Forming mold features: air nozzle is designed at the rib groove;

[0062] S4: Unvulcanized rubber balls are vulcanized using a vulcanizing machine to obtain vulcanized high-grade rubber basketballs.

[0063] 1) Vulcanization mold design:

[0064] A: Valve design:

[0065] The air nozzle is located in the middle of the groove, the upper and lower molds are evenly divided in the center, the air inlet is located at the mold closing position, and it is a conventional inner mold design.

[0066] B: Anti-slip and dustproof particle design

[0067] Particle size 1.5-2.5MM, shape: the surface of the particles is flat and round, and the arrangement is random and irregular. The gap between particles is 0.8-1.5MM. Larger particle designs are available. Patterns such as net patterns, hexagonal patterns, wave patterns, lightning patterns, and dart patterns can also be engraved on the surface of the particles.

[0068] C: Rib Groove Design

[0069] The groove design incorporates the curvature of the thinned leather section used to glue the basketball to the leather; there are no granules on the groove.

[0070] S5: Low-temperature, low-pressure vulcanization

[0071] Unvulcanized spheres are placed on a vulcanizing machine equipped with a vulcanizing mold for vulcanization. The vulcanizing air pressure is 6-9 kgf / cm2 (0.6-0.9 MPa), and the low temperature is 140-150℃.

[0072] Example 4

[0073] like Figure 4 As shown, unlike Example 3, in which... Figure 4 (a) The air nozzle is located in the middle of the plate, and the surface of the groove has particles or no particles. Figure 4 (b) The air nozzle is located in the middle of the plate, and the surface of the groove has particles; Figure 4 (c) The air nozzle is located in the middle of the groove, and there are particles on the surface of the groove.

[0074] Application example: The preparation of environmentally friendly rubber balls follows these steps:

[0075] S1: Preparation of wear-resistant low-temperature rubber compounds

[0076] Mix rubber materials (60 parts natural rubber, 10 parts styrene-butadiene rubber, 5 parts butadiene rubber, 10 parts synthetic rubber SBR) and filler materials (10 parts calcium carbonate, 5 parts silica, 10 parts zinc oxide, 8 parts stearic acid, 10 parts cellulose, 10 parts recycled fiber) in a mixing mill according to the specified proportions, then open-mill and cut into rubber sheets. Add auxiliary materials (5 parts tackifying resin, 2 parts protective wax, 2 parts flow venting agent PW, 3 parts naphthenic oil, 1 part antioxidant, 2.5 parts anti-aging agent, 2 parts accelerator BZ, 1.2 parts accelerator PZ, 3.5 parts foaming agent AC, 2.5 parts sulfur, and a certain amount of coloring agent) to the rubber sheets and open-mill and turn the mixture evenly from side to side for 5-10 minutes. The open mill has temperature control: 50-80℃.

[0077] After the rubber compound is rolled and calendered into rubber sheets, the finished rubber sheets need to be immediately sent to an air-conditioned room below 25°C to cool and wait for use. The rubber sheets are left to cool and stand for 4 hours before use.

[0078] S2: Gauze Liner Making

[0079] The pneumatic tire is sized to the required diameter, and then a certain length of yarn 5-2 is wound around the pneumatic tire. The yarn materials include: cotton yarn, polyester yarn, nylon yarn, short-fiber polyester yarn, long-fiber polyester yarn, nylon N6 yarn, and nylon N66 yarn. Then, a layer of leather-like base material 5-3 (non-woven fabric, dustproof cloth, polyester cloth, fleece) is wrapped around the yarn core to obtain the yarn core.

[0080] S3: Advanced Rubber Ball Molding

[0081] Cut the film made in step S1 into the required pieces, attach them to the forming mold with the corresponding piece shape and air suction holes, then put in the yarn or gauze pad, and use the automatic bonding of the forming machine to form an unvulcanized sphere; Forming mold features: the air nozzle is designed in the groove or near the middle.

[0082] S4: Unvulcanized rubber balls are vulcanized using a vulcanizing machine to obtain vulcanized high-grade rubber basketball balls.

[0083] 1) Vulcanization mold design:

[0084] A: Valve design:

[0085] The air nozzle is in the middle of the sheet, the upper and lower molds of the sheet are evenly divided, the air inflation position is in the middle of the sheet, the air inflation tube is inserted at an angle, and there needs to be a gap between the inner mold and the outer mold to facilitate the circulation of steam and cooling water. Therefore, in order to prevent steam and cooling water leakage, the inner mold and the outer mold are made into one piece, and a channel is made where the air inflation tube is inserted. The vulcanization mold is made of steel or aluminum material suitable for welding.

[0086] B: Anti-slip and dustproof particle design

[0087] Particle size 1.5-2.5MM, shape: the surface of the particles is flat and round, and the arrangement is random and irregular. The gap between particles is 0.8-1.5MM. Larger particle designs are available. Patterns such as net patterns, hexagonal patterns, wave patterns, lightning patterns, and dart patterns can also be engraved on the surface of the particles.

[0088] C: Rib Groove Design

[0089] The groove design incorporates the curvature of the thinned leather section used to glue the basketball to the leather; the groove surface has a granular texture.

[0090] S5: Low-temperature, low-pressure vulcanization

[0091] Unvulcanized spheres are placed on a vulcanizing machine equipped with a vulcanizing mold for vulcanization. The vulcanizing air pressure is 6-9 kgf / cm2 (0.6-0.9 MPa), and the low temperature is 140-150℃.

[0092] Its performance was tested, as follows:

[0093] Ordinary rubber basketballs have poor wear resistance, losing 20-30g in weight after 5000 impacts and the particles are worn down. The high-grade rubber basketball of this invention can improve wear resistance by 4-5 times, losing 15-20g in weight after 20000-25000 impacts, thus extending the life of the ball.

[0094] like Figure 5 As shown, the position of the air nozzle of this patented product is not limited. It can be in the middle of the sheet or in the middle of the groove. Its function and appearance are the same as leather glued ball. However, the air hole of ordinary rubber basketball is limited by the vulcanization equipment and can only be in the middle of the groove.

[0095] This patented product features soft, grippy granules suitable for professional players, unlike regular rubber basketballs where the granules are hard and slippery. Furthermore, due to the special design of the granules, it also has dust-proof properties.

[0096] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. However, any modifications, alterations, and variations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention based on the disclosed technical content are equivalent embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, any modifications, alterations, and variations made to the above embodiments based on the essential technology of the present invention are still within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing environmentally friendly rubber balls, characterized in that, The steps are as follows: S1. The air bladder is sized to the required diameter, and a winding layer is wrapped around the outer surface of the air bladder layer to obtain a gauze bladder; or a base material layer with a cloth backing is wrapped around the winding layer to obtain a gauze bladder. S2. Select low-temperature resistant rubber materials, mix them, calender them into rubber sheets, cool and shrink them to cut them into the required sheet shape, attach them to the molding mold with the corresponding sheet shape and air suction holes, then put in the yarn or gauze liner, and use the automatic bonding of the molding machine to form unvulcanized spheres. S3. Place the ball into a vulcanizing mold and vulcanize it under low pressure and low temperature to make a high-grade rubber ball.

2. The preparation method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the winding layer is one or more of cotton yarn, polyester yarn, nylon yarn, short-fiber polyester yarn, long-fiber polyester yarn, nylon N6 yarn or nylon N66 yarn, and the substrate layer is one of non-woven fabric, dustproof cloth, polyester cloth or fleece.

3. The method for preparing the environmentally friendly rubber ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, The low-temperature resistant rubber compound used includes the following raw materials in parts by weight: 60-100 parts of adhesive materials, 30-60 parts of filler materials, and 10-30 parts of additives; The rubber materials include natural rubber, butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber and synthetic rubber SBR; the filler materials include calcium carbonate, silica, zinc oxide, stearic acid, cellulose, recycled fibers; the additives include adhesive resins, protective waxes, rubber flow venting agents, antioxidants, anti-aging agents, ointments, closed-cell foaming agents, sulfur and a number of color rubbers.

4. The method for preparing the environmentally friendly rubber ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the design of the vulcanizing mold used must meet the following conditions: 1) Air nozzle: The air nozzle is located in the middle of the sheet, which is evenly divided into upper and lower molds. The inflation position is in the middle of the sheet, and the inflation tube is inserted at an angle. There must be a gap between the inner mold and the outer mold. 2) Anti-slip and dustproof particle design: Particle size 1.5-2.5MM, shape: the particle surface is flat and round, the arrangement is random and irregular, and the gap between particles is 0.8-1.5MM; 3) Rib groove: Rib groove is provided at the splicing point of the rubber sheet; the rib groove has particles or is a smooth surface without particles.

5. The method for preparing the environmentally friendly rubber ball according to claim 4, characterized in that, The air nozzle is located in the middle of the groove, with the upper and lower molds evenly spaced in the center, and the air inlet is located at the mold closing position.

6. The method for preparing the environmentally friendly rubber ball according to claim 4, characterized in that, The surface of the particles is engraved with patterns of different shapes.

7. The method for preparing the environmentally friendly rubber ball according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, the vulcanization conditions are: low pressure 6-9 kgf / cm2 (0.6-0.9 MPa), low temperature 140-160℃.

Images