Accelerator-Free Hybrid Elastomeric Glove Formulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional accelerator-free elastomeric products, such as gloves, suffer from issues like stiffness and durability problems, while also failing to address hypersensitivity allergies caused by accelerators in traditional formulations.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid elastomeric formulation comprising a mixture of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and polychloroprene rubber, with specific crosslinkers, stabilizers, antioxidants, and other additives, is developed to create an accelerator-free glove that enhances mechanical properties like elongation, stress relaxation, and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If accelerator-free nitrile glove is used to protect users from allergy, then hypersensitivity allergy is prevented, but the glove becomes stiff and wears out easily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehypersensitivity allergyVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite elastomeric formulation combining natural rubber latex (30-70 phr) and synthetic rubber latex (30-70 phr) to create a material that maintains flexibility and durability while being accelerator-free. This composite approach allows the glove to resist hypersensitivity allergies while improving mechanical strength and elasticity compared to pure accelerator-free nitrile gloves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific ratios of natural to synthetic rubber latex (30-70 phr each), along with crosslinking agents (0.5-2.0 phr) and protective colloids (5-20 phr). These parameter changes optimize the balance between allergy protection and mechanical durability, transforming the material properties to eliminate stiffness and improve wear resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional elastomeric formulation with accelerators is used, then crosslinking process is accelerated, but users suffer from skin conditions due to accelerator presence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrosslinking process speedVSAvoidskin conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent completely removes accelerators from the elastomeric formulation while maintaining effective crosslinking through alternative mechanisms. By extracting the harmful accelerator components and replacing them with accelerator-free crosslinking systems (using crosslinking agents at 0.5-2.0 phr combined with protective colloids), the formulation achieves both safety for hypersensitive users and adequate processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces protective colloids (5-20 phr) as intermediary substances that facilitate the crosslinking process without requiring accelerators. These colloids act as mediators between the rubber latex polymers and crosslinking agents, enabling effective network formation and curing while maintaining a safe, accelerator-free composition that protects users from skin conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If accelerator-free elastomeric formulation is developed, then allergy protection is achieved, but mechanical properties like elongation and stress relaxation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallergy protectionVSAvoidmechanical properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite elastomeric system combining natural rubber latex (30-70 phr) and synthetic rubber latex (30-70 phr) with complementary properties. Natural rubber contributes excellent elasticity and elongation, while synthetic rubber provides durability and chemical resistance. This composite structure maintains superior mechanical properties including elongation and stress relaxation while being inherently accelerator-free for allergy protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the formulation parameters by adjusting the ratio of natural to synthetic rubber latex (both at 30-70 phr), incorporating controlled amounts of crosslinking agents (0.5-2.0 phr) and protective colloids (5-20 phr). These parameter optimizations ensure that the accelerator-free formulation achieves mechanical properties comparable to or better than conventional formulations, with improved elongation and stress relaxation characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 formulation results in a glove with improved tensile strength, elongation, stress relaxation, and durability, while avoiding hypersensitivity allergies, offering a softer and more durable alternative to conventional accelerator-free gloves.

Implementation Method 1

crosslinkers, wherein the crosslinkers are a mixture of Crosslinker A and Crosslinker B... to enhance mechanical properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

stabilizers, wherein the stabilizers are base polymer specific... to protect from degradation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation resistance: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

antioxidant, wherein the antioxidant is used in an amount ranging between 0.50 phr to 2.00 phr

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntioxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS11725097B2Elastomeric article
Publication Date: 2023.08.15 TOP GLOVE INT SDN BHD

AI summary

An accelerator-free elastomeric formulation comprising base polymers, crosslinkers, stabilizers, an activator, an antioxidant, a pigment, a wax, an antifoam and a pH adjuster. A method of preparing an accelerator-free elastomeric formulation, comprising the steps of mixing Base polymer A with Crosslinker A to produce mixture A, adding while stirring Stabilizer A, Crosslinker B, an activator, an antioxidant, a pigment, a wax and an antifoam one after another with no particular order and followed by a pH adjuster into the mixture A to produce mixture B, adding Base polymer B and Stabilizer B one after another with no particular order into the mixture B to produce an accelerator-free elastomeric formulation and allowing the accelerator-free elastomeric formulation to mature.