Composite material based on organic fibers for thermally mouldable shoe components

Abstract

The invention relates to a composite material for thermally formable shoe components on an organic fiber base containing an organic fiber material or a mixture of two or more organic fiber materials and a binding agent consisting of a thermoplastic polymer or a mixture of two or more thermoplastic polymers and natural latex. The invention also relates to a process for producing such a thermoplastic composite material and to the providing of a thermally activatable adhesive in the flow transition range of the composite material.

1 . A thermoplastic composite material containing: 
 a) at least 15 wt % of an organic fiber material or of a mixture of two or more organic fiber materials as component A; and    b) at least 10 wt % of a component B consisting of at least 8 wt % of a thermoplastic binding agent as well as of at least 2 wt % natural latex;    wherein the thermoplastic binding agent consisting of polymers selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyolefins, polyvinylesters, polyethers, polystyrenes, styrene olefin copolymers, polyacrylates, vinylacetate polymers or ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, or mixtures or copolymers of two or more of the cited polymers.    
   
   
       2 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , comprising 25 to 65 wt % organic the fiber material as component A.  
   
   
       3 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , comprising 2 to 30 wt % natural latex and 8 to 70 wt % thermoplastic binding agent as component B, the total portion of component B in the composite material being a maximum of 85 wt %.  
   
   
       4 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic binding agent comprises at least 8 wt % of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene olefin copolymers, vinylacetate polymers or ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, or mixtures or copolymers of two or more of the cited polymers.  
   
   
       5 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the thermoplastic binding agent contains at least 8 to 30 wt % of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene olefin copolymers, vinylacetate polymers or ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, or mixtures or copolymers of two or more of the cited polymers.  
   
   
       6 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the thermoplastic binding agent contains at least one polymer with a minimum film-formation temperature (MFT) of at least 20° C.  
   
   
       7 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the composite material has a flow transition boundary in the range from approximately 70° C. to approximately 100° C.  
   
   
       8 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it optionally contains, in addition to components A and B, up to 20 wt % of one or more components selected from the group consisting of inorganic salts, preservative agents, dyes, natural and/or synthetic fats, paraffins, natural and/or synthetic oils, silicone oils as well as ionic and/or non-ionic surfactants.  
   
   
       9 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that plastic fibers, vegetable fibers or animal fibers are contained as component A.  
   
   
       10 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that leather fibers are contained as component A.  
   
   
       11 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the fibers of component A have a stretched length of approximately 0 1 to approximately 20 mm.  
   
   
       12 . The composite material according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the material is provided with a thermally activatable adhesive, preferably a hot-melt adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . A process for producing a thermoplastic composite material containing: 
 a) at least 15 wt % of an organic fiber material or of a mixture of two or more organic fiber materials as component A; and    b) at least 10 wt % of a component B consisting of at least 2 wt % natural latex with at least 8 wt % of a thermoplastic binding agent;    in which fibers with a stretched fiber length of 0.1 to 20 mm are mixed as component A simultaneously or in any successive sequence with a polymer dispersion or a mixture of two or more polymer dispersions selected from the group consisting of natural latex, polyurethanes, polyolefins, polyvinylesters, polyethers, polystyrenes, styrene olefin copolymers, polyacrylates, vinylacetate polymers or ethylene vinylacetate copolymers, or mixtures or copolymers of two or more of the cited polymers to form a mixture so that the polymers contained in the dispersion or the dispersions form component B, and the mixture is subsequently treated with an aqueous solution of an aluminum salt or copper salt, dewatered and dried.    
   
   
       14 . The use of a thermoplastic composite material according to  claim 1  for producing thermally formable shoe components such as heel caps and toe caps.  
   
   
       15 . The use of a thermoplastic composite material produced according to  claim 13  for producing thermally formable shoe components such as heel caps and toe caps.  
   
   
       16 . The use of a thermoplastic composite material according to  claim 1  for jacketing the profile of wall-, floor and ceiling panels, for coating the surface of furniture fronts with or without inner radii, for edge gluing, and for the surface coating of parts in the inner spaces of motor-driven automobiles.  
   
   
       17 . The use of a thermoplastic composite material according to  claim 13  for jacketing the profile of wall-, floor and ceiling panels, for coating the surface of furniture fronts with or without inner radii, for edge gluing, and for the surface coating of parts in the inner spaces of motor-driven automobiles.