Polyurethane elastomer and an improved hypoallergenic polyurethane flexible glove prepared therefrom

Claim 2

A flexible glove made from a polyurethane having 100% modulus less than approximately 250 psi, a 300% modulus of 200 to 450 psi, initial tensile set less than approximately 30% and tesile strength of approximately 3500 to 6500 psi.

Claim 3

The flexible glove of claim 1 wherein said polyurethane has a modulus profile below the curve (A) in the FIGURE.

Claim 4

The flexible glove of claim 2 wherein said polyurethane has tear greater than approximately 100 ppi, and greater than approximately 600% elongation.

Claim 5

The flexible glove of claim 2 wherein said polyurethane is a segmented polyurethane in which the percent hard segment is in the range of approximately 14-25% and the degree of cross-linking is approximately 5000 to 30,000 M c .

Claim 6

The flexible glove of claim 4 wherein said polyurethane is the reaction product of an aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanate, a short chain diol extender, a 500-5000 molecular weight long chain diol, and a polyhydroxy cross-linking agent.

Claim 7

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said polyurethane is essentially non-crystalline and non-crystallizable at a temperature of 5° C. for at least four months.

Claim 8

The flexible glove of claim 6 wherein said glove has an outside surface and an inside surface, said inside surface being worn against the skin, wherein said inside surface has embedded therein a solid lubricant.

Claim 9

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said long chain diol comprises a polyester diol.

Claim 10

The flexible glove of claim 8 wherein said polyester diol is a poly(ethylene adipate) diol.

Claim 11

A polyurethane elastomer having 100% modulus less than approximately 250 psi, a 300% modulus of 200 to 450 psi, tensile of approximately 3500 to 6500 psi, and less than approximately 30% initial tensile set, wherein said polyurethane comprises approximately 14 to 25% hard segment, is chemically cross-linked to provide approximately 5,000 to 30,000 M c , and is derived from an aromatic or alicyclic polyisocyanate and an approximately 500 to 5000 average molecular weight long chain diol that is crosslinked with a polyhydroxy cross-linking agent.

Claim 12

A polyurethane elastomer having 100% modulus less than approximately 250 psi, a 300% modulus of 200 to 450 psi, tensile of approximately 3500 to 6500 psi, and less than approximately 30% initial tensile set, wherein said polyurethane comprises approximately 14 to 25% hard segment, is chemically cross-linked to provide approximately 5,000 to 30,000 M c , and is derived from an aromatic or alicyclic polyisocyanate and an approximately 500 to 5000 average molecular weight long chain diol that is crosslinked with a polyhydroxy cross-linking agent.

Claim 13

The polyurethane of claim 10 wherein said polyurethane provides a shore A hardness of about 40 to 60.

Claim 14

The polyurethane of claim 10 wherein said polyurethane contains about 13 to 23% polyisocyanate.

Claim 15

The polyurethane of claim 12 wherein said polyurethane contains about 0.5 to 3.0% of a short chain diol extender.

Claim 16

The polyurethane of claim 13 wherein said short chain diol is a straight chain diol containing up to six carbon atoms.

Claim 17

The polyurethane of claim 10 wherein said polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate.

Claim 18

The polyurethane of claim 10 wherein said polyisocyanate is methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate).

Claim 19

The polyurethane of claim 10 wherein said long chain diol comprises a polyester diol.

Claim 20

The polyurethane of claim 17 wherein said long chain diol comprises a blend of polyester diols.

Claim 21

The polyurethane of claim 17 wherein said long chain diol is polycaprolactone glycol, poly(ethylene adipate) glycol or a blend thereof.

Claim 22

The polyurethane of claim 10 wherein said polyurethane is essentially non-crystalline at temperatures of approximately 5° C.

Claim 23

The polyurethane of claim 1 wherein said polyurethane possesses tensile of about 3500 to 6500 psi, 300% modulus of about 200 to 450 psi, elongation at break greater than about 600% and tear greater than about 100 ppi.

Claim 24

The polyurethane of claim 10 wherein said polyurethane is characterized by a modulus profile below the curve A in the FIGURE.

Claim 25

A film of the polyurethane of claim 10.

Claim 26

A film of the polyurethane of claim 16.

Claim 27

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said diisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate).

Claim 28

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said long chain diol is a crystalline diol.

Claim 29

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said long chain diol is a non-crystalline diol.

Claim 30

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said long chain diol is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol and mixtures thereof.

Claim 31

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said long chain diol additionally comprises a silicone diol as a mold release agent.

Claim 32

The flexible glove of claim 5 wherein said extender is a short chain diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the main chain selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, and neopentyl glycol,

Claim 33

The flexible glove of claim 1 wherein said polyurethane contains approximately 17 to 22% hard segment.

Claim 34

The flexible glove of claim 1 wherein said polyurethane has a modulus profile below the curve (B) in the FIGURE.

Claim 35

The flexible glove of claim 1 wherein said polyurethane is the reaction product of: an aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate), a long chain diol having a molecular weight of approximately 500 to 5000 selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, and mixtures thereof, a short chain diol extender having 2 to 6 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, and neopentyl glycol, and a polyhydroxy cross-linking agent, wherein said polyurethane contains approximately 17 to 22% hard segment and has a degree of cross-linking of approximately 5000 to 30,000 M c .

Claim 36

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 10 wherein said long chain diol is selected from the group consisting of poly(ehtylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol and mixtures thereof.

Claim 37

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 10 wherein said long chain diol additionally comprises a silicone diol as a mold release agent.

Claim 38

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 10 wherein said polyurethane is the product of reacting: an aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate), a long chain diol having a molecular weight of approximately 500 to 5000 selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, and mixtures thereof, a short chain diol extender having 2 to 6 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, and neopentyl glycol, and a polyhydroxy cross-linking agent, wherein said polyurethane contains approximately 17 to 22% hard segment and has a degree of cross-linking of approximately 5000 to 30,000 M c .

Claim 39

A flexible glove formed from a polyurethane which is the reaction product of: an aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate), a long chain diol having a molecular weight of approximately 500 to 5000 selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, and mixtures thereof, a short chain diol extender having 2 to 6 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, and neopentyl glycol, and a polyhydroxy crosslinking agent, wherein said diisocyanate and said extender are present in a combined amount which provides approximately 17 to 22% hard segment and said crosslinking is present in an amount which provides a degree of crosslinking of approximately 5000 to 30,000 M c wherein said polyurethane provides a 100l% modulus less than approximately 250 psi, a 300% modulus of 200 to 450 psi, initial tensile set less than approximately 30%, and tensile strength of approximately 3500 to 6500 psi.

Claim 40

A flexible glove formed from a polyurethane which is the reaction product of: an aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate), a long chain diol having a molecular weight of approximately 500 to 5000 selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, and mixtures thereof, a short chain diol extender having 2 to 6 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, and neopentyl glycol, and a polyhydroxy crosslinking agent, wherein said diisocyanate and said extender are present in a combined amount which provides approximately 17 to 22% hard segment and said crosslinking is present in an amount which provides a degree of crosslinking of approximately 5000 to 30,000 M c wherein said polyurethane provides a 100l% modulus less than approximately 250 psi, a 300% modulus of 200 to 450 psi, initial tensile set less than approximately 30%, and tensile strength of approximately 3500 to 6500 psi.

Claim 41

The flexible glove of claim 37 wherein said long chain diol additionally comprises a silicone diol as a mold release agent.

Claim 42

The flexible glove of claim 38 wherein said polyurethane is essentially non-crystalline and non-crystallizable at temperatures of 5° C. for at least 4 months.

Claim 43

A polyurethane elastomer which is the product of: an aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate), a long chain diol having a molecular weight of approximately 500 to 5000 selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, a short chain diol extender having 2 to 6 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, and neopentyl glycol, and a polyhydroxy cross-linking agent, wherein said diisocyanate and said extender are present in a combined amount which provides approximately 17 to 22% hard segment and said crosslinking agent is present in an amount which provides a degree of crosslinking of approximately 5000 to 30,000 M c wherein said polyurethane provides a 500% modulus less than approximately 250 psi, a 300% modulus of 200 to 450 psi, a tensile of approximately 3500 to 6500 psi, and less than approximately 30% initial tensile set.

Claim 44

A polyurethane elastomer which is the product of: an aromatic or alicyclic diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diphenyl methane diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and methylene bis (4-cyclohexyl isocyanate), a long chain diol having a molecular weight of approximately 500 to 5000 selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene succinate) glycol, poly(ethylene sebacate) glycol, poly(butylene adipate) glycol, poly(ethylene-butylene adipate) glycol, poly(diethylene ether adipate) glycol, a short chain diol extender having 2 to 6 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butane diol, and neopentyl glycol, and a polyhydroxy cross-linking agent, wherein said diisocyanate and said extender are present in a combined amount which provides approximately 17 to 22% hard segment and said crosslinking agent is present in an amount which provides a degree of crosslinking of approximately 5000 to 30,000 M c wherein said polyurethane provides a 500% modulus less than approximately 250 psi, a 300% modulus of 200 to 450 psi, a tensile of approximately 3500 to 6500 psi, and less than approximately 30% initial tensile set.

Claim 45

The polyurethane elastomer of claim 40 wherein said long chain diol comprises a silicone diol as a mold release agent.

Claim 46

The polyurethane of claim 41 wherein said polyurethane is crystalline and non-crystallizable at temperatures of 5° C. for at least 4 months.