Heat cross-linkable polymer compositions and their production process

Claim 2

A cross-linkable polymer composition comprising: (a) a binding agent which is a combination of: (i) 10 to 90 weight % based on the combination of a binding agent I which is a functionalized 1,3-butadiene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight (?n) of 500 to 10,000 containing a primary or secondary hydroxyl group and which has a hydroxyl value of 5 to 200, and (ii) 90 to 10 weight % based on the combination of a binding agent II which is a functionalized 1,3-butadiene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight (?n) of 500 to 10,000 containing a Bernstein acid anhydride side group and which has an acid value of 10 to 300, wherein the base polymer of each of the binding agent I and the binding agent II is a 1,3-butadiene homopolymer or a copolymer of at least 70 weight % of a 1,3-butadiene and at most 30 weight % of a monomer copolymerizable with 1,3-butadiene selected from the group consisting of a 1,3-diene other than 1,3-butadiene and an alpha-olefin and the base polymer may have been isomerized, hydrogenated or cyclized; and (b) a cross-linking amount of a carboxylic acid esterification catalyst selected from the group consisting of (alkyl)benzene-sulfonic acids, paraffin sulfonic acids and organic primary, secondary or tertiary amines which are not acyclized under the cross-linking conditions where the amines are cyclic, provided that triethylamine is excluded, wherein the binding agents and the cross-linking agent are selected such that the binding agents I and II cross-link each other without the addition of a further cross-linking agent.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1, wherein the binding agents I and II are in each instance present in a quantity of 20 to 80 weight % based on the combination; the number average molecular weight (?n) of the polymer that forms the basis of the binding agents I and II is 1,000 to 8,000; the hydroxy value of the binding agent I is 10 to 150; and the acid value of the binding agent II is 20 to 250.

Claim 4

A process for producing a cold cross-linking mass, which comprises mixing the binding agent as defined in claim 1 with a cross-linking amount of the carboxylic acid esterification catalyst as defined in claim 1.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 1 or 2, which further comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: extender oils; fillers; and additives selected from the group consisting of anti-aging agents, light-protecting agents, pigments, dyes which are soluble in the composition, adhesives, thickeners, flame retardants, smoke retardants.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 2, which further comprises a filler which is capable of directly reacting with the anhydride groups of the binding agent II.

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 5, wherein the filler is a hydroxide, oxide, basic carbonate or carbonate of an alkaline earth metal or of zinc or a hydroxide or oxide of aluminum.

Claim 8

A composition according to claim 2, which further comprises an extender oil.

Claim 9

A composition according to claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein the catalyst is N-methylimidazole.

Claim 10

A composition according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the catalyst is N-methylimidazole.

Claim 11

A composition according to claim 1,2 or 4, wherein the catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of pyridine, 3-amino-2,4-dimethylpentane, 1,1,6,6-tetraisopropyl-2,5-diazahexane, N-methylimidazole, di-(2-ethylhexyl)amine, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, and p-toluenesulfonic acid.

Claim 12

A composition according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of pyridine, 3-amino-2,4-dimethylpentane, 1,1,6,6-tetraisopropyl-2,5-diazahexane, N-methylimidazole, di-(2-ethylhexyl)amine, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, and p-toluenesulfonic acid.

Claim 13

A process for producing a cross-linked mass which comprises: cross-linking a cross-linkable polymer composition comprising a binding agent which is a combination of: (i) 10 to 90 weight % based on the combination of a binding agent I which is a functionalized 1,3-butadiene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight (?n) of 500 to 10,000 containing a primary or secondary hydroxyl group and which has a hydroxyl value of 5 to 200, and (ii) 90 to 10 weight % based on the combination of a binding agent II which is a functionalized 1,3-butadiene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight (?n) of 500 to 10,000 containing a Bernstein acid anhydride side group and which has an acid value of 10 to 300, wherein the base polymer of each of the binding agent I and the binding agent II is a 1,3-butadiene homopolymer or a copolymer of at least 70 weight % of a 1,3-butadiene and at most 30 weight % of a monomer copolymerizable with 1,3-butadiene selected from the group consisting of a 1,3-diene other than 1,3-butadiene and an alpha-olefin and the base polymer may have been isomerized, hydrogenated or cyclized, either without or under heating, wherein [A] the cross-linking without heating is performed in the presence of a cross-linking amount of a carboxylic acid esterification catalyst selected from the group consisting of (alkyl)benzenesulfonic acids, paraffin sulfonic acids and organic primary, secondary or tertiary amines which are not acyclized under the cross-linking conditions where the amines are cyclic, provided that triethyl-amine is excluded, [B] and the binding agents and the carboxylic acid esterification catalyst where needed are selected such that the binding agents I and II cross-link each other without the addition of a further cross-linking agent.

Claim 14

A process for producing a cross-linked mass which comprises: cross-linking a cross-linkable polymer composition comprising a binding agent which is a combination of: (i) 10 to 90 weight % based on the combination of a binding agent I which is a functionalized 1,3-butadiene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight (?n) of 500 to 10,000 containing a primary or secondary hydroxyl group and which has a hydroxyl value of 5 to 200, and (ii) 90 to 10 weight % based on the combination of a binding agent II which is a functionalized 1,3-butadiene-based polymer having a number average molecular weight (?n) of 500 to 10,000 containing a Bernstein acid anhydride side group and which has an acid value of 10 to 300, wherein the base polymer of each of the binding agent I and the binding agent II is a 1,3-butadiene homopolymer or a copolymer of at least 70 weight % of a 1,3-butadiene and at most 30 weight % of a monomer copolymerizable with 1,3-butadiene selected from the group consisting of a 1,3-diene other than 1,3-butadiene and an alpha-olefin and the base polymer may have been isomerized, hydrogenated or cyclized, either without or under heating, wherein [A] the cross-linking without heating is performed in the presence of a cross-linking amount of a carboxylic acid esterification catalyst selected from the group consisting of (alkyl)benzenesulfonic acids, paraffin sulfonic acids and organic primary, secondary or tertiary amines which are not acyclized under the cross-linking conditions where the amines are cyclic, provided that triethyl-amine is excluded, [B] and the binding agents and the carboxylic acid esterification catalyst where needed are selected such that the binding agents I and II cross-link each other without the addition of a further cross-linking agent.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 12, wherein the cross-linking is performed in the presence of the carboxylic acid esterification catalyst at an ambient temperature or at a warm temperature up to 45°C.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 12, wherein the cross-linking is performed in the absence of the carboxylic acid esterification catalyst under heating.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the cross-linkable polymer composition further comprises a filler.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein the cross-linkable polymer composition further comprises an extender oil.