Transparent tooling for uv radiation curable rubber

Abstract

A mold, a molding apparatus, and a method for manufacturing articles or components is used to manufacture an article or component of the article that at least partially comprises an ultraviolet (UV) curable material. The mold and apparatus comprise at least one mold wall formed of a cyclic olefin copolymer, which is in contact with UV radiation curable material and allows the article or component of the article to be exposed to UV radiation for a period of time in order to provide for at least partial cure thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mold for forming a molded article, the mold comprising:
 a mold wall comprising a cyclic olefin copolymer and having a molding surface for contact with an article-forming material to form the molded article.   
     
     
         2 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer comprises a copolymer of polyethylene and norbornene. 
     
     
         3 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the mold wall is substantially transparent to ultraviolet (UV) light to allow the UV light to be transmitted through the mold wall to the molding surface. 
     
     
         4 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer has a heat deflection temperature (HDT) at 0.46 MPa of at least about 140° C. as characterized by HDT testing in accordance with ISO 75-1 Test Standard. 
     
     
         5 . The mold of  claim 4 , wherein the HDT of the cyclic olefin copolymer is from about 165 to about 200° C. 
     
     
         6 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the mold surface has a surface energy of from about 15 to about 35 dynes/cm at 20° C. as characterized by surface measurement testing in accordance with ISO 8296 Test Standard. 
     
     
         7 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the mold wall forms at least part of a first die portion, and the mold further comprises a second die portion, wherein the first and second die portions are configured to move relative to each other between an opened position and a closed position, and wherein the first and second die portions in the closed position defines a cavity for molding the article-forming material. 
     
     
         8 . The mold of  claim 1 , wherein the mold is a mold for forming a molded footwear component, a molded apparel component, or a molded sporting equipment component. 
     
     
         9 . A method for forming a molded article, the method comprising:
 introducing an article-forming material to a mold that comprises a mold wall comprising a cyclic olefin copolymer; and   contacting the article-forming material with a molding surface of the mold wall for forming the molded article.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cyclic olefin copolymer comprises a copolymer of polyethylene and norbornene. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mold wall is substantially transparent to ultraviolet (UV) light, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting the UV light through the mold wall to the molding surface for exposing the article-forming material to the UV light. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the article-forming material is an UV radiation curable material, and wherein the method further comprises curing the article-forming material in response to exposure to the UV light. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the UV radiation curable material is an UV radiation curable elastomeric or rubber material, and wherein curing comprises curing the UV radiation curable elastomeric or rubber material in response to exposure to the UV light. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the UV radiation curable elastomeric or rubber material is an UV radiation curable polyurethane rubber, and wherein curing comprises curing the UV radiation curable polyurethane rubber in response to exposure to the UV light. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mold wall forms at least part of a first die portion, and the mold further comprises a second die portion, and wherein contacting includes moving the first and second die portions relative to each other to a closed position for molding the article-forming material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the molded article is a molded footwear component, a molded apparel component, or a molded sporting equipment component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the molded article is a molded footwear component. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for forming a molded article, the apparatus comprising:
 a mold comprising a mold wall that comprises a cyclic olefin copolymer and that is substantially transparent to ultraviolet (UV) light, wherein the mold wall has a molding surface for contacting an article-forming material; and   an UV light source disposed adjacent to the mold wall on a side opposite the molding surface and configured to generate UV light for transmission through the mold wall to the molding surface for exposing the article-forming material to the UV light.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for forming a molded footwear component, a molded apparel component, or a molded sporting equipment component. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is an apparatus for forming a molded footwear component.