Silicone Gloves

Abstract

The invention relates to silicone articles, specifically molded silicone gloves, and methods of making of the silicone gloves. The silicone gloves may optionally comprise a reinforced material. The silicone gloves may have heat resistance and slip resistance and can retain shape after deformation.

1 . A glove comprising an open end, a first layer and a second layer, the first layer and the second layer joining together at the edge to define a first pocket for receiving the thumb of a person and a second pocket for receiving the remaining fingers of the person, wherein the glove comprises a silicone composition and wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer comprises a reinforced material. 
   
   
       2 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone composition comprises a silicone rubber, a liquid silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a silicone-modified ethylene propylene rubber, a silicone polyester resin, a silicone alkyd resin, a silicone epoxy resin, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the silicone composition further comprises a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a cross-linking agent, a catalyst, a filler, a colorant, a filler, a dispersant, a surfactant, a wetting agent, a coupling agent, a lubricant, an accelerator, a rheology modifier, a thickener, an adhesion promoter, a plasticizer, an age resister, an anti-oxidant, an anti-foaming agent, an anti-blocking agent, an anti-static agent, an anti-mildew agent, an acid acceptor, a UV stabilizer, a blowing agent, a fire retardant, a desiccant or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The glove of  claim 3 , wherein the silicone composition comprises one or more silicone rubber, at least one colorant and a cross-linking agent. 
   
   
       5 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforced material comprises a polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, carbon, glass, steel, polybenzoxazole, rayon or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforced material is in the form of one or more filaments, fibers, threads, cords, sheets or fabrics. 
   
   
       7 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforced material comprises at least one glass fiber sheet. 
   
   
       8 . The glove of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforced material comprises two glass fiber sheets, each of which is embedded separately in the first layer and the second layer. 
   
   
       9 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outer surface of the first layer and the outer surface of the second layer comprises a plurality of ridges defining at least a grid. 
   
   
       10 . The glove of  claim 9 , wherein the grid comprises a plurality of cells. 
   
   
       11 . The glove of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of cells is independently in the shape of a square, rhombus, rectangle, dimond, trapezium, parallelogram, circle, oval, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or octagon. 
   
   
       12 . The glove of  claim 11 , wherein the height of the ridges ranges from about 0.2 mm to about 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove comprises at least one opening through the first layer and the second layer near the open end of the glove. 
   
   
       14 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is substantially a mirror image of the second layer. 
   
   
       15 . A process of making a glove comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a first layer and a second layer, wherein each of the first layer and the second layer comprises independently a silicone composition, and wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer comprises a reinforced material;   (b) placing the first layer and second layer in a glove shape mold comprising a lower portion, a mandrel and an upper portion, wherein the mandrel is between the first layer and second layer; and   (c) curing the silicone composition in the mold at an elevated temperature to join the first layer and the second layer together at the edge to define an open end, a first pocket for receiving the thumb of a person, and a second pocket for receiving the remaining fingers of the person.   
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the silicone composition comprises a silicone rubber, a liquid silicone rubber, a fluorosilicone rubber, a silicone-modified ethylene propylene rubber, a silicone polyester resin, a silicone alkyd resin, a silicone epoxy resin, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the silicone composition further comprises a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a cross-linking agent, a catalyst, a filler, a colorant, a filler, a dispersant, a surfactant, a wetting agent, a coupling agent, a lubricant, an accelerator, a rheology modifier, a thickener, an adhesion promoter, a plasticizer, an age resister, an anti-oxidant, an anti-foaming agent, an anti-blocking agent, an anti-static agent, an anti-mildew agent, an acid acceptor, a UV stabilizer, a blowing agent, a fire retardant, a desiccant or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the reinforced material comprises two glass fiber sheets, each of which is embedded separately in the first layer and the second layer. 
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the elevated temperature is from about 180° C. to about 220° C. 
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the curing time of step (c) is from about 300 seconds to about 750 seconds.