Direct production of elastomer compound from reactor solution

Claim 1

A method of preparing oil-extended elastomer in pellet form consisting essentially of a. polymerizing from 25 to 55% by weight of a monovinyl aromatic compound and 45 to 75% by weight of a conjugated diene in an inert solvent to form a base thermoplastic elastomer of formula A--B--(B--A) n , where A is a monovinyl aromatic compound block, B is a conjugated diene block, and n is an integer from 1 to 20; b. adding to the elastomer-solvent mixture an extender oil, and dispersing the resulting mixture; c. pumping the dispersion to a devolatilizing extruder; d. extruding the mixture into a strand while removing the solvent from the mixture; and e. chopping the resulting strands to form pellets suitable for use in shoe sole molding applications.

Claim 2

A method of preparing oil-extended elastomer in pellet form consisting essentially of a. polymerizing from 25 to 55% by weight of a monovinyl aromatic compound and 45 to 75% by weight of a conjugated diene in an inert solvent to form a base thermoplastic elastomer of formula A--B--(B--A) n , where A is a monovinyl aromatic compound block, B is a conjugated diene block, and n is an integer from 1 to 20; b. adding to the elastomer-solvent mixture an extender oil, and dispersing the resulting mixture; c. pumping the dispersion to a devolatilizing extruder; d. extruding the mixture into a strand while removing the solvent from the mixture; and e. chopping the resulting strands to form pellets suitable for use in shoe sole molding applications.

Claim 3

A method of preparing shoe sole compound in pellet form consisting essentially of a. polymerizing from 25 to 55% by weight of a monovinyl aromatic compound and 45 to 75% by weight of a conjugated diene in an inert solvent to form a base thermoplastic elastomer of formula A--B--(B--A) n , where A is a monovinyl aromatic compound block, B is a conjugated diene block, and n is an integer from 1 to 20; b. adding to the elastomer-solvent mixture an extender oil, reinforcing resins, inorganic fillers, antioxidants and stabilizers; and dispersing the resulting mixture; c. pumping the dispersion to a devolatilizing extruder; d. extruding the mixture into a strand while removing the solvent from the mixture; and e. chopping the resulting strands to form pellets suitable for use in shoe sole molding applications.

Claim 4

A method of preparing shoe sole compound in pellet form consisting essentially of a. polymerizing from 25 to 55% by weight of a monovinyl aromatic compound and 45 to 75% by weight of a conjugated diene in an inert solvent to form a base thermoplastic elastomer of formula A--B--(B--A) n , where A is a monovinyl aromatic compound block, B is a conjugated diene block, and n is an integer from 1 to 20; b. adding to the elastomer-solvent mixture an extender oil, reinforcing resins, inorganic fillers, antioxidants and stabilizers; and dispersing the resulting mixture; c. pumping the dispersion to a devolatilizing extruder; d. extruding the mixture into a strand while removing the solvent from the mixture; and e. chopping the resulting strands to form pellets suitable for use in shoe sole molding applications.