US 12,378,327 B2
Method of making a silica/cellulose hybrid
George Jim Papakonstantopoulos, Medina, OH (US); and Bruce Raymond Hahn, Hudson, OH (US)
Assigned to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US)
Filed by THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, Akron, OH (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/527,333.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/120,300, filed on Dec. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0169752 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. C08B 15/00 (2006.01); C08B 15/05 (2006.01); C08L 1/08 (2006.01); C08L 9/06 (2006.01); C09C 1/28 (2006.01); C09C 1/30 (2006.01); C09C 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC C08B 15/05 (2013.01) [C08L 1/08 (2013.01); C08L 9/06 (2013.01); C09C 1/3072 (2013.01); C09C 3/10 (2013.01); C08L 2310/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for making a silica/cellulose hybrid composition comprising the steps of: (1) dispersing sodium silicate or an alkoxy silane into an aqueous cellulose slurry to make an aqueous cellulose dispersion, wherein the cellulose in the aqueous cellulose dispersion has an average length which is within the range of 15 μm to 25 μm; (2) maintaining the aqueous cellulose dispersion under conditions of agitation for a period of time which is sufficient to allow the sodium silicate or the alkoxy silane to react with the cellulose, wherein the aqueous cellulose dispersion is maintained at a pH which is within the range of 10 to 12.5; (3) adding an acid to the cellulose dispersion in an amount which is sufficient to reduce the pH of the cellulose dispersion to no more than about 8 to produce the silica/cellulose hybrid; and (4) recovering the silica/cellulose hybrid from the water.