Claims
- 1. A process for preparing a functioned devulcanized rubber comprising: reacting a mixture of rubber vulcanizate crumb and an alkali metal in the absence of oxygen and in the presence of a solvent at a temperature below the rubber's thermal cracking temperature in order to form a functionalized devulcanized rubber wherein the functionalized devulcanized rubber contains functional groups that are bonded to the devulcanized rubber and are derived from the solvent molecules.
- 2. The process of claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of one or more of toluene, naphtha, terpenes, benzene, cyclohexane, diethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, ethylbenzene, isophorone, isopropyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone and derivatives thereof.
- 3. The process of claim 2 wherein the alkali metal is sodium.
- 4. The process of claim 3 further comprising:
- (a) adding water to the reaction mixture thereby forming an aqueous phase containing water and sodium and a non-aqueous phase containing the functionalized devulcanized rubber and a solvent; and
- (b) separating the functionalized devulcanized rubber from the non-aqueous phase and recovering a functionalized rubber polymer.
- 5. The product recovered from step (b) of claim 4.
- 6. The process of claim 4 further comprising the step of vulcanizing the functionalized rubber polymer in order to form a strengthened vulcanized rubber.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 8/549,543 filed Oct. 27, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,186.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3787315 |
Bearden, Jr. et al. |
Jan 1974 |
|
3976559 |
Bearden, Jr. et al. |
Aug 1976 |
|
4161464 |
Nicholas |
Jul 1979 |
|
5602186 |
Myers |
Feb 1997 |
|
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, "Recycling (Rubber)", vol. 19, p. 1005, (1982). |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
549593 |
Oct 1995 |
|