MODELING COMPOSE AND ITS USE AND ITEMS MADE WITH IT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an oven-hardenable modeling compound, its use, and objects manufactured with it.

[0002] Plastic, oven-hardening materials for shaping and modeling objects are generally known.

[0003] Modeling compounds also include so-called clays, or, in the case of polymer-containing compounds, polymer clays.

[0004] Thus, from DE 25 15 757 C3 a plastic mass that can be deformed by hand and hardened by heating is known.

[0005] Such a mass consists essentially of polyvinyl chloride, filler, and plasticizer. The plasticizer is present in a phthalate-containing form at a concentration of up to 30% by weight.

[0006] Furthermore, a modeling compound is known from DE 10 2005 059 143 A1 which, in addition to binders, contains plasticizers in phthalate-free form.

[0007] A disadvantage of the aforementioned masses is that the surfaces of the modeled products are smooth and generally reflect the surface structure of the machining tool.

[0008] German patent DE 20 2009 002 221 U1 discloses a plastic compound which, as plastisol, contains PCL, a biodegradable plastic. The compound includes fibrous materials and / or cellulose fibers as fillers. These plastic compounds are used in hobby applications, for example, for jewelry making or as a molding compound.

[0009] DE 10 2005 011 692 A1 describes a plastically deformable mass which, in addition to binders and water, also contains fillers in the form of cellulose and plastic fibers. This mass is suitable as a modeling compound for manufacturing objects, as a molding compound for replicating objects, and as a filler for filling and leveling uneven surfaces.

[0010] A disadvantage of such masses according to DE 20 2009 002 221 U1 and DE 10 2005 011 692 A1 is that these masses form a smooth surface without structures when modeled.

[0011] Similarly, DE 202005019340 U1 should be mentioned regarding modeling compounds, which was one of the first modeling compounds to contain phthalate-free plasticizers. Here, too, the surfaces of the finished products are smooth and without texture.

[0012] Furthermore, an eraser with fillers, including plastic fibers, is known from DE 3131456 A1.

[0013] Task The invention is therefore to create a modeling or molding compound that does not have the aforementioned disadvantages and that, in particular, automatically forms a surface structure after the modeling process, i.e., without the aid of tools and / or other aids, which is particularly perceptible optically and / or haptically.

[0014] Furthermore, it is an object of the invention that both optical and haptic, leather-like effects / structures can be reproduced with the modeling compound according to the invention.

[0015] These problems are solved by the features included in claims 1, 9 and 10.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the masses according to the invention are included in the further claims.

[0017] This task is accomplished using a modeling compound consisting at least of a binder, which is in the form of plastisol, and possibly other additives, the plastisol being essentially composed of PVC and plasticizer. The compound contains at least one filler made of plastic fibers.

[0018] It has been surprisingly shown that by adding branched plastic fibers as fillers to modeling compound mixtures, a visually and / or haptically perceptible structured surface design is formed even before the hardening process.

[0019] The particular advantages of the compounds according to the invention lie in the surface structure that forms automatically, especially during modeling. For example, the surface structure of leather can be easily achieved with the compound according to claim 1 without additional effort, such as an extra work step and / or structuring tool. In addition to the optical effect of the surface structure, a haptic effect is also achieved, which is not pronounced in the smooth surfaces of compounds according to the prior art.

[0020] The modeling compound according to the invention consists of a binder, plasticizer, and at least one filler in the form of plastic fibers.

[0021] The binding agent used consists primarily of plastisol. This plastisol is mainly composed of PVC and plasticizers. The PVC can be, among other things, emulsifier-containing or -free emulsion PVC, suspension PVC, micro-bead suspension PVC, or a mixture of the individual PVC types.

[0022] The deployed Plasticizers may be present in the masses as a phthalate-containing and / or phthalate-free plasticizer.

[0023] A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is a mass which is free of phthalate-containing plasticizers.

[0024] Phthalate-free plasticizers are based, for example, on citric acid, adipic acid and / or benzoate esters.

[0025] Examples of phthalate-free plasticizers include acetyltributyl citrate, tri-(2-ethylhexyl)-actyl citrate, trioctyl citrate, tridecyl citrate, tributyl citrate, trihexyl citrate, triethyl citrate, dioctyl adipate, diisodecyl adipate, diisononyl adipate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipates, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid diisononyl esters, acetic acid esters of monoglycerides, benzoates, or a mixture of at least two of these substances.

[0026] Furthermore, the plasticizer can belong to the benzoate or benzoate ester group. Examples include 2,2,4-triethyl-1,3-pentanediyl dibenzoates and derivatives thereof, triethylene glycol dibenzoates, diethylene glycol dibenzoates, diethylene glycol monobenzoates, and / or propylene glycol dibenzoates. Any mixture of all the aforementioned plasticizers is possible. Phthalate-containing plasticizers can include, for example, diethylhexyl phthalate, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid esters, phthalic acid diisononyl esters, and phthalic acid diisodecyl esters.

[0027] The modeling clay contains 24-38% plasticizer by weight.

[0028] Preferably, the mass contains 28-36 wt.% plasticizer.

[0029] It has been shown in a surprising way that the use of Synthetic fibers The filler in the modeling clay creates a surface structure that closely resembles the structure of leather. This structure forms automatically. It has proven particularly advantageous if the plastic fibers are branched.

[0030] Examples of plastic fibers include polyolefin fibers and / or polyester fibers. Polyolefin fibers can be polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, or mixtures of these fibers.

[0031] Polyester fibers can be present as polyethylene terephthalate fibers. The mass contains 2–10 wt%, preferably 3–8%, plastic fibers. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous for the fibers to have a length of 0.20–1.05 mm, preferably 0.35–0.95 mm. Depending on the fiber length, the effect of the resulting structures can be more or less pronounced, and can exhibit finer or coarser structures / surface textures.

[0032] The fiber thickness, or fiber strength, is in the range of 0.25 to 0.60 µm.

[0033] In addition to the plastic fibers used as filler, other materials are also used. Fillers in the form of inorganic and / or organic fillers. Examples include kaolin, chalk, talc, aluminum hydroxide and / or clay powder, which have a particle size < 250 µm, preferably less than 100 µm.

[0034] Other fillers may include metallic glitter, glitter, or mixtures of these substances, in order to achieve special optical effects, for example.

[0035] So-called lightweight fillers can also be used as fillers or mixed with other fillers mentioned, which are in the form of commercially available micro glass hollow spheres or plastic hollow spheres.

[0036] A stabilizer In such modeling compounds, the stability of PVC is improved, i.e., it prevents, among other things, the release of hydrogen chloride. For this purpose, primarily inorganic and organic salts of the metals calcium, zinc, tin, magnesium, sodium, and potassium are used, e.g., calcium stearate, sodium stearate, potassium stearate, zinc stearate, magnesium stearate, tin stearate, and / or mixtures of the metal salts.

[0037] As colorantPigments can be in pure form, as powder pigments, as pigment preparations, preferably as azo-free color pigment, effect pigment and / or azo-free lacquered dye. As a selection from a wide variety of possible color pigments, the following are listed: Pigment Yellow 14 (CI 21095), Pigment Red 254 (CI 56110), Pigment Orange 34 (CI 21110), Pigment Red 122 (CI 73915), Pigment Green 7 (CI 74260), Pigment White 6 (CI 77891), Pigment Black 7 (CI 77266), Pigment Red 101 (CI 77491), Pigment Violet 23 (CI 51319), Pigment Blue 29 (CI 77007), Pigment Yellow 185 (CI 56290), Pigment Yellow 1 (CI 11680), Pigment Red 48:2 (CI 15865:2), Pigment Red 53:1 (CI 15585:1), Pigment Orange 34 (CI 21115), Pigment Yellow 83 (CI 21108), and Pigment Blue. 15 (CI 74160).

[0038] The addition of these colorants gives the modeling clay or the objects made with it, such as leather-like objects / leather imitations, a brilliant appearance.

[0039] Other colorants listed include Pearlescent Pigments, Mica Iron Metal Luster Pigments, Polyester Glitter Pigments and Luminescent Pigments.

[0040] It can be observed that differently colored modeling clays can also be mixed, blended or kneaded together in any way, resulting in a marbling effect.

[0041] The invention will be explained in more detail using a general example and some recipe examples. Example framework

[0042] 45–65 wt.% PVC or PVC copolymer; 24–38 wt.% plasticizers; 2–10 wt.% synthetic fibers; 5–20 wt.% fillers; 0–5 wt.% colorants; 0–5 wt.% other additives

[0043] Stabilizers and co-stabilizers are examples of other possible additives. Recipe example 1 - brown modeling clay (phthalate-free)

[0044] 57 wt.% E-PVC or S-PVC 29 wt.% Citrate-based plasticizer 4 wt.% Polyethylene fibers 4 wt.% Zn stearate 2 wt.% Silica 3 wt.% Chalk 1 wt.% Colouring agent (brown mixture)

[0045] The brown mixture is composed as follows. 0.25% by weight Pigment White 6 0.4% by weight Pigment Red 254 0.15% by weight Pigment Black 7 0.2% by weight Pigment Yellow 83 Recipe example 2 - red mass (containing phthalates)

[0046] 51 wt.% E-PVC or S-PVC 25 wt.% Diethylhexyl phthalate 5 wt.% Polypropylene fibers 16 wt.% Aluminum silicate 2 wt.% Stearate 1 wt.% Pigment Red 254 Recipe example 3 - yellow mass (phthalate-free)

[0047] 59 wt.% E-PVC or S-PVC 30 wt.% Citrate-based plasticizer 4.5 wt.% Polyester fibers 2.5 wt.% Stearate 3.5 wt.% Filler (chalk, silica) 0.5 wt.% Pigment Yellow 83

[0048] The desired consistency of the mass can easily be achieved by varying the binder content and / or plasticizer content.

[0049] If, during the processing of the mass according to the invention, the surfaces of the manufactured objects are smooth due to high pressure or the use of a roller, the leather-like structure on the surface can be re-established by small movements / deformations of near-surface layers / areas or by slight pulling.

[0050] The curing temperature of such masses is 110 to 130°C, preferably 130°C, with a curing time of up to 30 minutes.

[0051] The ProductionThe production of the mass according to the invention is carried out in principle as described in DE 25 15 757 C3, according to which the dry PVC powder is mixed with the filler and then the plasticizer and co-stabilizer are added. The mass thus produced is optionally finished by kneading under refrigeration.

[0052] use The inventive mass is used in the production of plastic masses that can be deformed by hand and hardened by heating, as modeling compounds.

[0053] The modeling compound according to the invention is particularly suitable for the production of products that closely resemble leather in haptic and visual appearance, wherein the leather-like products have a structured surface. Such products can be produced in thin layers – as is usual for leather goods – by shaping through rolling, for example with a rolling pin or pastry roller.

[0054] The filler – cross-linked plastic fibers – automatically forms a structure on the surface that is very close to the structure of leather, both visually and haptically.

[0055] The thickness of the modeling compound corresponds approximately to the thickness of leather. Leather thicknesses are mostly in the range of 0.8 mm to 2.4 mm. Due to the specified curing time and curing temperature of the compound according to the invention, it is evident that the thin, leather-like layers, in their cured form, exhibit leather-like characteristics with regard to flexibility and pliability.

[0056] A "texture analyzer" was used to determine the elasticity of the hardened mass.

[0057] Using the "Texture Analyzer", a maximum deflection of 15.8 mm could be measured / determined for a round breaking bar with a radius of 5 mm, which was hardened at 130°C for 30 min, at a maximum force of 91 N.

[0058] It has been surprisingly shown that the modeling compound according to the invention, when hardened, is characterized by high flexibility, good cutting properties and, in thin layers and in strip form, good braiding properties.

[0059] The invention further relates to objects and items made from a modeling compound according to claim 1, wherein the compound, after being shaped to form the objects and items, was hardened by the application of heat and has a structured, haptically and visually leather-like surface.

[0060] The manufactured items are flexible and supple before and after hardening, similar to leather. After hardening, the items, even in the form of thin layers, are resistant to tensile forces.

Claims

1. Modelling material consisting of at least binder, which is present as plastisol, and at least one filler as well as optionally further additives, wherein the plastisol is composed substantially of PVC and softener, characterised in that the at least one filler is present in the form of plastics material fibres and the plastics material fibres have a length of 0.20 to 1.05 millimetres.

2. Material according to claim 1, characterised in that the material comprises 2 to 10 weight %, preferably 3 to 8 %, of plastics material fibres.

3. Material according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the plastics material fibres have a length of 0.35 to 0.95 millimetres.

4. Material according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the plastics material fibres are formed to be branched.

5. Material according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plastics material fibres are formed as polyolefin fibres and / or polyester fibres.

6. Material according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the polyolefin fibres are present as polypropylene fibres or polyethylene fibres as well as mixtures of these fibres.

7. Material according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material is composed of 45 - 65 weight % PVC or PVC copolymer, 24 - 38 weight % softener, 2 - 10 weight % plastics material fibres, 5 - 20 weight % fillers, 0 - 5 weight % colorant and 0 - 5 weight % other additives.

8. Material according to claim 1 or 7, characterised in that the material comprises softener containing phthalate and / or free of phthalate.

9. Use of a modelling material according to at least one of the preceding claims for creation / production of products which are very similar in touch and visual impression to leather, wherein the products similar to leather have a structured surface.

10. Articles and objects produced from a modelling material according to claim 1, wherein the material after shaping to form the articles and objects was hardened by the action of heat, the articles and objects having a structured surface similar in touch and visually to leather.