Rubber-Based Elastomeric Glove Fabrication via Solvent Dipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical linemen's gloves cause significant hand fatigue due to their stiffness and inflexibility, leading to decreased dexterity and ability to manipulate small objects after long periods of use.
Innovation Solution
A method for fabricating rubber-based elastomeric materials involving milling diene rubber, mixing with silica reinforcing components and antiozonant waxes, and forming a viscous solution for dipping and evaporation to create gloves with a thickness of at least 30 mils and a flexural modulus of less than 0.06 MPa, enhancing flexural characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional rubber-based elastomeric compositions are used to manufacture linemen's gloves, then the gloves provide necessary protection and durability, but they cause significant hand fatigue due to stiffness and inflexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the rubber-based elastomeric material by incorporating specific plasticizers, oils, and polymer blends in controlled ratios. This changes the material's physical properties to achieve a flexural modulus of less than 0.06 MPa, transforming the glove from stiff and rigid to flexible and compliant while maintaining protective function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite elastomeric composition combining multiple rubber types (natural rubber, synthetic rubber), plasticizers, oils, and reinforcing agents. This composite structure allows the material to exhibit both flexibility from the rubber-plasticizer matrix and controlled strength from the reinforcing components, resolving the contradiction between softness and durability
2Strength
If the gloves are made thicker to improve protection, then durability and puncture resistance increase, but flexibility and dexterity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material's intrinsic strength parameters through chemical composition rather than relying solely on increased thickness. By incorporating specific plasticizers and oil formulations, the material achieves high elongation at break and puncture resistance at molecular level, allowing thin gloves to provide protection equivalent to thicker gloves while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables the use of thin film structures (gloves with thickness at least 30 mils) by fundamentally improving the material's mechanical properties through plasticization. The elastomeric composition provides sufficient strength and puncture resistance in a thin configuration, eliminating the need for thick rigid structures that would compromise dexterity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting gloves exhibit improved flexural qualities, reducing hand fatigue and maintaining dexterity, with a flexural modulus improvement of over 50% compared to prior art, allowing for more efficient work performance.
Implementation Method 1
evaporating the solvent from the glove mold between dips to form the rubber-based elastomeric glove
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for fabricating rubber-based elastomeric materials are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating a rubber-based elastomeric glove includes milling diene rubber to form first and second milled diene rubber portions; forming a first mixture by mixing a silica reinforcing component and a first antiozonant wax with the first milled diene rubber portion; forming a second mixture by mixing a second antiozonant wax with the second milled diene rubber portion; mixing the first mixture, the second mixture, and a solvent to form a viscous solution; and dipping a glove mold into the viscous solution for a selected number of dips, and evaporating the solvent from the glove mold between dips to form the rubber-based elastomeric glove, wherein the elastomeric glove has a thickness of at least about 30 mils, and wherein the elastomeric glove exhibits a flexural modulus of less than about 0.06 MPa.