Degradable Foam-Containing Tires, Related Methods And Kits For Adding Degradable Foam To Tires

Abstract

Disclosed herein are kits for use in adding degradable foam to a tire, methods for preparing a degradable foam-containing tire, tires containing degradable foam, and methods for degrading the degradable foam in tires containing degradable foam. The degradable foam comprises a combination of (i) at least one di- or polyisocyanate, (ii) at least one polysiloxane diol, at least one polysiloxane diamine, or a combination thereof, and (iii) optionally at least one polyol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for degrading polyurethane foam from inside of a mounted polyurethane foam-containing tire, the method comprising:
 a. providing a solution comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof,   b. providing a mounted tire comprising a wheel and a rubber carcass and having polyurethane foam inside the rubber carcass,   c. applying the solution to the polyurethane foam inside the carcass, and   d. heating to degrade the polyurethane foam.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof comprises an ester which is optionally halogenated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ester comprises at least one of:
 a. a diester;   b. a monoester; or   c. a triester.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the ester functionality comprises an alkyl group each independently selected from C1-C41 optionally substituted with one or more halogen, or an aromatic or heteroaromatic group selected from C5-C53 optionally substituted with one or more halogen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one phosphorous oxoacid or ester thereof comprises dimethyl phosphonate, diethyl phosphonate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution is applied to the foam in a volume/volume ratio of about 10/1 to about 1/1, or the amount of degradant in the polyurethane foam is about 50 to about 300% by weight of the polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heating comprises at least one of:
 a. heating at about 120 to about 250° C., preferably about 140 to about 200° C.; or   b. heating for about 0.5 to about 10 hours, preferably about 0.5 hours to about 5 hours.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising exposing at least a portion of the foam prior to applying the solution. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mounted tire further comprises a tire stem and applying of the solution comprises adding the solution through the tire stem. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof further comprises at least one catalyst, at least one surfactant, a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method for separating a wheel from a mounted polyurethane foam and degradant-containing tire by degrading the foam, the method comprising:
 a. providing a mounted tire comprising a wheel and a rubber carcass with polyurethane foam inside the rubber carcass wherein the polyurethane foam includes a degradant comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof,   b. optionally applying a solution comprising at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof to the polyurethane foam inside the rubber carcass,   c. heating to degrade the polyurethane foam, and   d. separating the wheel from the rubber carcass.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one phosphorous oxoacid or an ester thereof comprises an ester which is optionally halogenated. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ester comprises at least one of:
 a. a diester;   b. a monoester; or   c. a triester.