Non-Sulfur Crosslinked Nitrile Gloves for Clean Room Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber gloves with sulfur-based crosslinking cause allergies and lack sufficient chemical resistance, particularly to hydrofluoric acid, which is a concern in clean room environments.
Innovation Solution
A non-sulfur crosslinked glove composition using a carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene elastomer with specific acrylonitrile and unsaturated carboxylic acid residues, combined with a polyacrylonitrile butadiene elastomer, providing excellent chemical resistance and flexibility even in thicker gauges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If sulfur-based crosslinking is used to achieve excellent tensile strength and oil resistance, then mechanical strength is improved, but Type IV allergy is caused disadvantageously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes sulfur and sulfur-based vulcanization accelerators from the crosslinking system, replacing them with non-sulfur crosslinking agents such as peroxides or metal oxides. This extraction of the harmful sulfur component eliminates the cause of Type IV allergy while maintaining the crosslinking function necessary for achieving excellent tensile strength and oil resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces non-sulfur crosslinking agents (such as peroxides or metal oxides) as intermediary substances to replace sulfur in the crosslinking process. These intermediaries enable the formation of crosslinked structures that provide mechanical strength without causing allergic reactions, thus mediating between the need for strength and the avoidance of harmful effects
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-sulfur crosslinking is used to avoid allergies, then allergic reactions are reduced, but chemical resistance to hydrofluoric acid is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameters of the elastomer composition, including the acrylonitrile content (23-30 wt%) and unsaturated carboxylic acid content (3-8 wt%), to achieve the desired balance between chemical resistance and flexibility. By precisely controlling these compositional parameters, the glove attains sufficient chemical resistance to hydrofluoric acid while maintaining non-sulfur crosslinking to avoid allergies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite elastomer system combining carboxylated acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer with specific ratios of acrylonitrile and unsaturated carboxylic acid units. This composite material structure provides enhanced chemical resistance to hydrofluoric acid through the specific molecular composition while utilizing non-sulfur crosslinking mechanisms to prevent allergic reactions
3Reliability
If thickness is increased to improve chemical resistance, then chemical resistance is improved, but flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the Mooney viscosity of the elastomer within the range of 100-220 and optimizes the molecular weight and composition parameters to achieve a balance between thickness and flexibility. By adjusting these parameters, the glove can be manufactured at sufficient thickness for chemical resistance while maintaining adequate flexibility for ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different functional zones within the glove structure by controlling the distribution and composition of elastomer components. The crosslinked structure provides localized strength and chemical resistance where needed, while the polymer matrix maintains flexibility in regions requiring movement, achieving local optimization of both properties
Data Source
AI summary
An emulsion composition includes (1) a carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene elastomer containing an acrylonitrile residue in an amount of 23 to 30 wt% and an unsaturated carboxylic acid residue in an amount of 3 to 8 wt%, and (2) a polyacrylonitrile butadiene elastomer containing an acrylonitrile residue in an amount of 20 to 50 wt% and having a weight average molecular weight (in terms of styrene) of 7,000 to 50,000. The weight ratio of the component (1)/ the component (2) is from 70/30 to 90/10.