Polyurethane elastomer and non-pneumatic tire fabricated therefrom

Claim 2

A polyurethane elastomer obtained by reacting (a) a mixture of isocyanate-terminated polyether prepolymers formed from the reaction of (i) a first polyether having a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 1500 and terminated with functional groups containing active hydrogen, (ii) a second polyether having a molecular weight of from above about 1,500 to about 6,500 and terminated with functional groups containing active hydrogen and (iii) a multifunctional isocyanate and (b) alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent having at least two amino groups under polyurethane elastomer-forming conditions.

Claim 3

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols.

Claim 4

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first and second polyethers are polytetramethylene ether glycols.

Claim 5

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first polyether has a molecular weight of from about 250 to about 1,000 and the second polyether has a molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 3,000.

Claim 6

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first polyether has a molecular weight of about 1,000 and the second polyether has a molecular weight of about 2,000.

Claim 7

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of first polyether to second polyether is from about 95:5 to about 50:50.

Claim 8

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of first polyether to second polyether is from about 90:10 to about 60:40.

Claim 9

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of first polyether to second polyether is from about 85:15 to about 80:20.

Claim 10

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 2,4 toluene diisocyanate, 2,6 toluene diisocyanate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols and the isocyanate to hydroxyl ratio is from about 1.7:1 to 2.3:1.

Claim 12

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols and the isocyanate to hydroxyl ratio is from about 1.85:1 to about 2.1:1.

Claim 13

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols and the isocyanate to hydroxyl ratio is from about 1.95:1 to about 2.15:1.

Claim 14

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent possesses at least one aromatic group having thereon at least two alkylthio substituents and at least one amino substituent.

Claim 15

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent possesses the structure ##STR2## wherein R' is the same or different alkyl group; R is the same or different and is hydrogen or other substituent which does not adversely affect polyurethane formation; n is 2 or 3, p is 2 or 3 and q is 1 or 2.

Claim 16

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent possesses the structure ##STR3## wherein R' is a C 1 to C 6 alkyl group, n is 2 and p is 2.

Claim 17

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent is at least one member of the group consisting of 2,4-di(methylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 4,6-di(methylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2,4-di(ethylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 4,6-di(ethylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2,4-di(n-butylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2,5-di(methylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2-(methylthio)-4-(ethylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(ethylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(propylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3-(methylthio)-5-(ethylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diamino-ethylbenzene; 3,5-di(ethylthio)-2,6-diamino-ethylbenzene; 3,5-di(cyclohexylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3-(methylthio)-5-(propylthio)-2,6-diamino-ethylbenzene; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diamino-chlorobenzene; 3,6-di(ethylthio)-2,4-diamino-chlorobenzene; 4,4'-methylenebis[2,6-di(methylthio)aniline]; [3,5-di(methylthio)-4-aminophenyl[3-(methylthio-4-aminophenyl]methane; 4,4'-ethylidenebis[2,6-di(ethylthio)aniline]; 4,4'-isopropylidenebis[2,6-di(methylthio)aniline]; [3,5-di(methylthio)-4-aminophenyl][3-5-di(ethylthio)-4aminophenyl]sulfide; phenyl[3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diaminophenyl]methane; 2,6-diamino-3,5-di(n-butylthio-4-bromotoluene; and, [3,5-di(methylthio)-4-aminophenyl][3,5-di(ethylthio)-4aminophenyl]ether; and, mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent is a mixture of 3,5-(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene and 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene.

Claim 19

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the stoichiometry of the mixture of prepolymer to curing agent is from about 80 to 125.

Claim 20

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the stoichiometry of the mixture of prepolymer to curing agent is from 100 to about 120.

Claim 21

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the stoichiometry of the mixture of prepolymer to curing agent is from about 110 to 115.

Claim 22

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 wherein the first and second polyethers are polytetramethylene glycols, the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 2,4 toluene diisocyanate, 2,6 toluene diisocyanate and mixtures thereof and the curing agent is a mixture of 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene and 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene.

Claim 23

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 which has been postcured.

Claim 24

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 which has been postcured at a temperature of from about 115° to about 160° C.

Claim 25

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 1 which has been postcured at a temperature of from about 120° C. to about 140° C.

Claim 26

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 21 which has been postcured.

Claim 27

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 21 which has been postcured at a temperature of from about 115° C. to about 140° C.

Claim 28

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 21 which has been postcured at a temperature of from about 120° C. to about 140° C.

Claim 29

A non-pneumatic tire comprising a compression-deformable, load-carrying annular body fabricated from polyurethane elastomer obtained by reacting (a) a mixture of isocyanate-terminated polyether prepolymers formed from the reaction of (i) a first polyether having a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 1500 and terminated with functional groups containing active hydrogen, (ii) a second polyether having a molecular weight of from above about 1,500 to about 6,500 and terminated with functional groups containing active hydrogen and (iii) a multifunctional isocyanate and (b) alkylthioaromatic diamine curing agent under polyurethane elastomer-forming conditions.

Claim 30

A non-pneumatic tire comprising a compression-deformable, load-carrying annular body fabricated from polyurethane elastomer obtained by reacting (a) a mixture of isocyanate-terminated polyether prepolymers formed from the reaction of (i) a first polyether having a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 1500 and terminated with functional groups containing active hydrogen, (ii) a second polyether having a molecular weight of from above about 1,500 to about 6,500 and terminated with functional groups containing active hydrogen and (iii) a multifunctional isocyanate and (b) alkylthioaromatic diamine curing agent under polyurethane elastomer-forming conditions.

Claim 31

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols.

Claim 32

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the first and second polyethers are polytetramethylene ether glycols.

Claim 33

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the first polyether has a molecular weight of from about 250 to about 1,000 and the second polyether has a molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 3,000.

Claim 34

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the first polyether has a molecular weight of about 1,000 and the second polyether has a molecular weight of about 2,000.

Claim 35

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the molar ratio of first polyether to second polyether is from about 95:5 to about 50:50.

Claim 36

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the molar ratio of first polyether to second polyether is from about 90:10 to about 60:40.

Claim 37

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the molar ratio of first polyether to second polyether is from about 85:15 to about 80:20.

Claim 38

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 2,4 toluene diisocyanate, 2,6 toluene diisocyanate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 39

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols and the isocyanate to hydroxyl ratio is from about 1.7:1 to 2.3:1.

Claim 40

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols and the isocyanate to hydroxyl ratio is from about 1.85:1 to about 2.1:1.

Claim 41

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the first and second polyethers are polyether polyols and the isocyanate to hydroxyl ratio is from about 1.95:1 to about 2.15:1.

Claim 42

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent possesses at least one aromatic group having thereon at least two alkylthio substituents and at least one amino substituent.

Claim 43

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent possesses the structure ##STR4## wherein R' is the same or different alkyl group; R is the same or different and is hydrogen or other substituent which does not adversely affect polyurethane formation; n is 2 or 3, p is 2 or 3 and q is 1 or 2.

Claim 44

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent possesses the structure ##STR5## wherein R' is a C 1 to C 6 alkyl group, n is 2 and p is 2.

Claim 45

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent is at least one member of the group consisting of 2,4-di(methylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 4,6-di(methylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2,4-di(ethylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 4,6-di(ethylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2,4-di(n-butylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2,5-di(methylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 2-(methylthio)-4-(ethylthio)-meta-phenylenediamine; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(ethylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(propylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3-(methylthio)-5-(ethylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diamino-ethylbenzene; 3,5-di(ethylthio)-2,6-diamino-ethylbenzene; 3,5-di(cyclohexylthio)-2,4-diaminotoluene; 3-(methylthio)-5-(propylthio)-2,6-diamino-ethylbenzene; 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diamino-chlorobenzene; 3,6-di(ethylthio)-2,4-diamino-chlorobenzene; 4,4'-methylenebis[2,6-di(methylthio)aniline]: [3,5-di(methylthio)-4-aminophenyl[3-(methylthio-4aminophenyl]methane: 4,4'-ethylidenebis[2,6-di(ethylthio)aniline]: 4,4'-isopropylidenebis[2,6-di(methylthio)aniline]; [3,5-di(methylthio)-4-aminophenyl][3-5-di(ethylthio)-4aminophenyl]sulfide: phenyl[3,5-di(methylthio)-2,4-diaminophenyl]methane: 2,6-diamino-3,5-di(n-butylthio-4-bromotoluene: and, [3,5-di(methylthio)-4-aminophenyl][3,5-di(ethylthio)-4aminophenyl]ether: and, mixtures thereof.

Claim 46

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the alkylthioaromatic amine curing agent is a mixture of 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene and 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene.

Claim 47

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 26 wherein the stoichiometry of the mixture of prepolymer to curing agent is from about 80 to 125.

Claim 48

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 26 wherein the stoichiometry of the mixture of prepolymer to curing agent is from 100 to about 120.

Claim 49

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 26 wherein the stoichiometry of the mixture of prepolymer to curing agent is from about 110 to 115.

Claim 50

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 26 wherein the first and second polyethers are polytetramethylene glycols, the isocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 2,4 toluene diisocyanate, 2,6 toluene diisocyanate and mixtures thereof and the curing agent is a mixture of 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene and 3,5-di(methylthio)-2,6-diaminotoluene.

Claim 51

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured.

Claim 52

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured at a temperature of from about 115° C. to about 160° C.

Claim 53

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured at a temperature of from about 120° C. to about 140° C.

Claim 54

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 48 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured.

Claim 55

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 48 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured at a temperature of from about 115° C. to about 160° C.

Claim 56

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 48 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured at a temperature of from about 120° C. to about 140° C.

Claim 57

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 28 wherein the annular body has a generally cylindrical outer member at the other periphery thereof, a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inward from, and coaxial with, said outer member, a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members, said rib members being generally inclined at an angle of from about 0° to about 75° to radial planes which intersect the rib members at their inner ends, and at least one web member having opposite side faces, said web member having its inner and outer peripheries connected respectively to said inner and outer cylindrical members, said web member being connected on at least one of its side faces to at least one of said rib members to thereby form with said rib member a load-carrying structure for said outer cylindrical member, said load-carrying structure being constructed to permit locally loaded members to buckle.

Claim 58

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 55 wherein the annular body has a generally cylindrical outer member at the other periphery thereof, a generally cylindrical inner member spaced radially inward from, and coaxial with, said outer member, a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart rib members connected at their corresponding inner and outer ends to said inner and outer cylindrical members, said rib members being generally inclined at an angle of from about 0° to about 75° to radial planes which intersect the rib members at their inner ends, and at least one web member having opposite side faces, said web member having its inner and outer peripheries connected respectively to said inner and outer cylindrical members, said web member being connected on at least one of its side faces to at least one of said rib members to thereby form with said rib member a load-carrying structure for said outer cylindrical member, said load-carrying structure being constructed to permit locally loaded members to buckle.

Claim 59

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 55 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured.

Claim 60

The non-pneumatic tire of claim 56 wherein the polyurethane elastomer has been postcured.