Microbial desulfurization of ground tire rubber by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

This study focused on the microbial desulfurization of ground tire rubber (GTR) by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, which selected from the soil of an iron mine had strong sulphur oxidizing capacity. GTR was desulfurizated in the modified Silverman medium during the cultivation of T. ferrooxidans for 30 days, and T. ferrooxidans was able to maintain a high biomass. The continuous increase of SO₄²⁻ in the medium indicated that the sulfur on the surface of GTR was oxidized. FTIR-ATR and XPS spectra revealed that a rupture of conjugated CC bonds and a reduction of sulfur content on the surface of GTR had occurred during desulfurization. The sol fraction of GTR increased from its original 4.69%-7.43%. Compared with GTR sheet, desulfurizated GTR (DGTR) sheets had much smoother surfaces, better physical properties, and higher swelling values. NR vulcanizates filled with DGTR (with 10-40 phr loading) had lower crosslink density and better mechanical properties than those filled with GTR at the same loading. The results determined by DMA suggested that NR vulcanizates filled with DGTR had a reduction of molecular chain friction resistance during glass transition and SEM photograph indicated a better interface coherence between DGTR and NR matrix.     

Microbial desulfurization of waste latex rubber with Alicyclobacillus sp.

A microbe with desulfurizing capability, Alicyclobacillus sp., was selected to recycle waste latex rubber (WLR). The growth characteristics of the microorganism and the technical conditions in the co-culture desulfurization process were studied. The desulfurization effect of Alicyclobacillus sp. on the WLR was characterized, and the mechanism for the microbial desulfurization of WLR was tentatively explored. The results showed that adding 5% (w/v) WLR into medium had little effect on the growth of Alicyclobacillus sp. The surfactant polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) had a toxic effect on Alicyclobacillus sp., but the growth of the microbe was vigorous if the proper technique was used: the mixing of WLR with Tween 80, followed by the addition of the mixture into the culture media. With the increase of desulfurization time, the swelling value of desulfurizated waste latex rubber (DWLR) increased, but the crosslink density decreased. After co-culture desulfurization for 8–10 days, a DWLR with good desulfurization effect was obtained. The mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR)/DWLR composite improved significantly over those of NR/WLR composite. XPS and FTIR results revealed that Alicyclobacillus sp. could break the crosslinked sulfur bonds and oxidize them to sulfones groups. The increase of O element content on the surface of DWLR was confirmed by water contact angle measurements. The relationship between the crosslink density and sol fraction of DWLR with different desulfurization times agreed with the Horikx equation, an indication that the microorganisms could break the crosslinked sulfur bonds on the surface of WLR, but leaving the main chains intact.     

Effect of high-temperature curing on the crosslink structures and dynamic mechanical properties of gum and N330-filled natural rubber vulcanizates

The effects of high-temperature curing and overcuring on the cure characteristics, crosslink structure, physical properties and dynamic mechanical properties (DMPs) of gum and carbon black (N330) filled natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates cured with conventional (CV), semi-efficient (SEV) and efficient (EV) cure systems, which have about the same total crosslink densities under a moderate curing temperature of 150°C, were investigated. The gum NR vulcanizates cured with CV, SEV and EV curing systems have about the same glass transition temperature (T_g) and tan δ values below the temperature of about 0°C, but showed some apparent differences in the tan δ values increasing in the order CVG′ and tan δ values above T_g higher than those of the gum NR vulcanizates.

High-temperature curing and overcuring cause decreases to various extents in the cure plateau torque, Shore A hardness, 300% modulus and tensile strength, and lead to apparent changes in the DMPs. Typically, there is an increase in T_g of all three kinds of gum and N330-filled NR vulcanizates because of changes in the total crosslink densities and crosslink types. The CV vulcanizates show the most significant change in cure characteristics, physical properties and DMPs since the highest content of polysulfidic crosslinks appears in the CV vulcanizate, causing the highest level of reversion and having a dominant effect on the properties.     

Reinforcement of compatibilized NR/NBR blends by fly ash particles and precipitated silica

Effects of precipitated silica (PSi) and silica from fly ash (FA) particles (FASi) on the cure and mechanical properties before and after thermal and oil aging of natural rubber (NR) and acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) blends with and without chloroprene rubber (CR) or epoxidized NR (ENR) as a compatibilizer have been reported in this paper. The experimental results suggested that the scorch and cure times decreased with the addition of silica and the compound viscosity increased on increasing the silica content. The mechanical properties for PSi filled NR/NBR vulcanizates were greater than those for FASi filled NR/NBR vulcanizates in all cases. The PSi could be used for reinforcing the NR/NBR vulcanizates while the silica from FA was regarded as a semi‐reinforcing and/or extending filler. The incorporation of CR or ENR enhanced the mechanical properties of the NR/NBR vulcanizates, the ENR being more effective and compatible with the blend. The mechanical properties of the NR/NBR vulcanizates were improved by post‐curing effect from thermal aging but deteriorated by the oil aging. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of gel content on the physical properties of unfilled and carbon black filled natural rubber vulcanizates

Recently, gel content has been considered as a standard property for evaluating commercial grade natural rubber (NR). In this study, NR containing various amounts of gel was prepared by accelerated storage hardening as a model to clarify the influence of gel content on the physical properties of both unfilled and carbon black filled vulcanizates. Furthermore, the NR samples were investigated to determine the effect of gel fraction on Mooney viscosity and the structure of the gel after mastication. The results revealed that Mooney viscosity was related to the percentage of gel fraction that has been proven to be the result of interactions between proteins and phospholipids at chain ends. After mastication, although the gel fraction of NR can be decomposed to ∼0% w/w, the interactions of proteins and phospholipids at the chain ends still existed, corresponding to the gel content of the raw rubber. In the case of unfilled vulcanizates, the gel content showed no effect on cure characteristics, crosslink density and ultimate tensile strength, whereas the upturn of stress occurred at a smaller strain when the gel content increased. However, in the case of carbon black filled vulcanizates, the gel content played a dominant role in the carbon black dispersion, which was poorer when gel content increased, contributing to a decrease of crosslink density and ultimate tensile strength.     

Impacts of filler covalent and non‐covalent modification on the network structure and mechanical properties of carbon–silica dual phase filler/natural rubber

The carbon–silica dual phase filler (CSDPF) was modified by bis (3‐triethoxy‐silylpropyl) tetrasulphane (Si69) and 1‐allyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium chloride (AMI), respectively. The natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates filled with modified CSDPF were fabricated through mechanical mixing followed by a high‐temperature cure process. The impacts of filler surface modification on the curing characters, crosslinked junctions, network structure, and mechanical properties of NR vulcanizates were investigated. The results showed that the Si69 interacted with CSDPF through covalent bond, while the interaction between AMI and CSDPF was hydrogen bond. Both modifications increased the cure rate of CSDPF/NR compounds as well as the crosslinked degree, compared with those of pristine CSDPF/NR compound. The modifications improved the dispersion of CSDPF in NR matrix. The covalent modification by Si69 caused a limited movement of NR chains in the CSDPF surface, which contributed to a greater tensile modulus of Si69‐modified CSDPF/NR. However, the higher content of mono‐sulfidic crosslink and the poorer content of strain‐induced crystallization in the NR matrix led to a slight increase of tensile strength and tear strength of Si69‐modified CSDPF/NR, compared with those of CSDPF/NR. The tensile modulus of AMI‐modified CSDPF/NR had a lower value due to a faster polymer chain motion on the CSDPF surface. However, the tensile and tear strength of AMI‐modified CSDPF/NR increased significantly because of the increase of mono‐sulfidic crosslink, strain‐induced crystallization, and the existed hydrogen bond between CSDPF and NR. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fly ash particles and precipitated silica as fillers in NR/CR vulcanizates under thermal and thermal‐oil ageing

The loading effect of precipitated silica (PSi) and fly ash‐based silica (FASi) on mechanical properties of natural rubber/chloroprene (NR/CR) under thermal and thermal‐oil ageing was investigated with variation in NR content in the NR/CR blends. The selected results were compared with vulcanized NR/nitrile rubber (NR/NBR) blends. The cure time of CR vulcanizate was found to decrease with increasing NR content, but increased with silica fillers. The Mooney viscosity for CR vulcanizates reduced with increasing NR content. The addition of NR had no effect on tensile modulus and tensile strength for the FASi filled NR/CR, but the opposite trend was observed for the PSi filled NR/CR. The post‐curing effect was more significant in PSi filled NR/CR than in FASi filled NR/CR. The tensile strength of the NR/CR vulcanizates was slightly reduced after thermal ageing especially at high NR content, more extreme reduction being found by thermal‐oil ageing. The elongation at break of NR/CR with both silica fillers ranged from 400 to 900%. The hardness results were similar to the tensile modulus. The addition of PSi in NR/CR considerably increased the tear strength, but less pronounced effect was found for FASi. The resilience properties of NR/CR tended to decrease with increasing silica content. The compression set became poorer when NR content was increased. The PSi showed higher improvement in compression set than the FASi. The effects of silica and ageing on the mechanical properties for NR/CR vulcanizates were similar to those for NR/NBR vulcanizates. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A SAXS and swelling study of cured natural rubber/styrene–butadiene rubber blends

A small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and swelling study of natural rubber and styrene–butadiene rubber blends (NR/SBR) is presented. To this aim, specimens of NR and SBR and blends with 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75 NR/SBR ratios (in phr) were prepared at a cure temperature of 433 K and the optimum cure time (t₁₀₀). This time was obtained from rheometer torque curves. The system of cure used in the samples was sulfur/n‐t‐butyl‐2‐benzothiazole sulfenamide. From swelling tests of the cured samples, information about the molecular weight of the network chain between chemical crosslinks was obtained. For all cured compounds, in the Lorentz plots built from SAXS scattering curves, a maximum of the scattering vector q around 0.14 Å^?1 was observed. However, the q position shows a linear‐like shift toward lower values when the SBR content in the SBR/NR blend increases. In pure NR or SBR the q values show a different tendency. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the existence of different levels of vulcanization for each single phase forming the blend and the existence of a third level of vulcanization located in the interfacial NR/SBR layer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2320–2327, 2009     

Effect of nature and extent of crosslinking on swelling and mechanical behavior of styrene–butadiene rubber membranes

The influence of crosslink type and crosslink density on the swelling and mechanical behavior of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) membranes were studied in four aliphatic hydrocarbons. To vary the crosslink type and crosslink density, SBR was vulcanized by four different vulcanizing systems viz conventional, efficient, peroxide and a mixture of sulfur and peroxide. SBR vulcanizates having mono or disulfidic crosslinks (efficient system) exhibited the highest solvent uptake whereas those with C–C bonds (peroxide system) showed the lowest. SBR crosslinked by the mixed system showed superior mechanical properties in the unswollen, swollen and deswollen conditions. Arrhenius and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated from the diffusion data. Finally, a comparison between theoretical and experimental diffusion results was carried out.     

Effect of polyvinylchloride on the properties of rubber vulcanizates

Natural rubber (NR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) were compounded with polyvinylchloride (PVC). Some physico-mechanical and dielectric properties of resulting rubber vulcanizates were measured. It was found that the addition of PVC to both NR and SBR results in slight decreases in tensile strength and elongation at break but a marked increase in oil-resistance of the vulcanizates. Moreover, the addition of PVC to NR slightly increases both dielectric constant and dielectric losses while the addition of PVC to SBR loaded with 50 phr carbon black (HAF) lowers these parameters. Both rubber blends, especially NR, show a reasonable stability with ageing.     

Fracture morphology and mechanical properties of ethylene/vinyl acetate rubber vulcanizates reinforced by in situ prepared sodium methacrylate

Ethylene/vinyl acetate rubber (EVM) was reinforced by sodium methacrylate (NaMAA) that was in situ prepared through the neutralization of sodium hydroxide and methacrylic acid in EVM during mixing. The mechanical properties of EVM vulcanizates with different NaMAA loadings and at different crosslink densities were studied and compared with those of high abrasion furnace carbon black (HAF) filled EVM vulcanizates. The fracture surfaces of gum and filled EVM vulcanizates were observed with scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that NaMAA‐reinforced EVM vulcanizates had better mechanical properties than HAF/EVM vulcanizates. When the NaMAA loading was 50 phr, the tensile strength of the NaMAA/EVM vulcanizate was 30 MPa, the tear strength was 102 kN/m, and the elongation at break was over 400%. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed that NaMAA formed in the compounding process and underwent polymerization during vulcanization. Scanning probe microscopy analysis revealed that nanoscale particles dispersed in the NaMAA/EVM vulcanizates. The mechanical properties were correlated with the fracture morphology of all the vulcanizates. The tensile rupture of NaMAA‐filled EVM vulcanizates occurred through tearing from a crack in the bulk of the samples. Tear deviation occurred with the addition of NaMAA and resulted in a rough surface, leading to an improvement in the tear strength of NaMAA‐filled EVM vulcanizates. The micrographs of the tear surfaces of the vulcanizates indicated that the different fracture modes depended on the NaMAA loading and the crosslink density. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1715–1724, 2004     

炭黑结合橡胶对天然橡胶性能的影响

本文研究了天然橡胶(NR)与五种不同类型炭黑的结合橡胶对其混炼胶的应力-应变、流变性质等的影响。结果表明,NR与炭黑的结合橡胶量随炭黑结构和表面积增加而增加。结合橡胶的增加使NR在低剪切下的本体粘度、弹性恢复性和强度增加,塑性和粘着性降低;在高剪切下流动性变差,挤出物收缩则有所下降。此外,结合橡胶的增加也增加了硫化胶的交联度,因此模量、硬度和耐磨性提高,抗张强度和伸长率却有所下降。     

Elucidation of the accelerated sulfur vulcanization of bio oil-extended natural rubber compounds

The elucidation of the role of bio-oils on the accelerated sulfur vulcanization of natural rubber (NR) compounds is discussed in this study. Two types of bio-oil, palm oil and soybean oil, were studied in direct comparison with a distillate aromatic extract oil (DAE) as a reference. The scorch and cure times of the bio-oil-extended NR compounds were shorter than those containing DAE. The use of bio-oils gave a higher cure reaction rate constant along with a lower activation energy than the use of DAE. The attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the fatty acid segment of the bio-oils can react with zinc oxide to give zinc carboxylate, which is then involved in and promotes the vulcanization reaction. The use of bio-oils to increase the rate of vulcanization strongly influenced the crosslink density of the obtained NR vulcanizates, yielding NR vulcanizates with a lower crosslinking density. It is proposed here that the bio-oils might consume the curing agent via the reaction between their own unsaturated fatty acid and sulfur. This was supported by the increased viscosity of the oils after exposure to sulfur at a high temperature. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the bio-oil-extended NR compounds were lower and higher, respectively, than the NR extended with DAE oil due to the lower crosslink density of the bio oil-extended NR vulcanizates.     

The effects of crosslink density and crosslink type on the tensile and tear strengths of NR,SBR and EPDM gum vulcanizates

The effects of crosslink density and crosslink type on the tensile and tear strengths of gum NR, SBR and EPDM vulcanizates have been studied. Over a wide range of crosslink densities, sulphur vulcanizates for these rubbers have higher strengths than the peroxide vulcanizates. These results show that crystallizability of the rubbers is not an important factor in producing separate curves in the strength vs crosslink density plots. Tear strengths appear to be more sensitive to crosslink structures than tensile strengths. A composite plot shows that tensile strengths are approximately proportional to tear strengths for all three rubbers.     

Preparation and properties of graded styrene‐butadiene rubber vulcanizates

Styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates with graded network‐chain densities in the thickness direction were prepared by layering and heat pressing the compounding sheets. The effect of the gradient of network‐chain density on the mechanical properties of the graded rubber vulcanizates was investigated in comparison with those of SBR vulcanizates that were prepared from the homogeneous compounding sheets. The matrix with a high network‐chain density exclusively affected the mechanical properties of the graded rubber vulcanizates when the gradient was given in the thickness direction. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 358–364, 2002; DOI 10.1002/polb.10096     

Plasma polymerization of acetylene onto silica: an approach to control the distribution of silica in single elastomers and immiscible blends

Surface modification of silica by acetylene plasma polymerization is applied in order to improve the dispersion in and compatibility with single rubbers and their blends. Silica, used as a reinforcing filler for elastomers, is coated with a polyacetylene (PA) film under vacuum conditions. Water penetration measurements show a change in surface energy due to the PA‐film deposition. The weight loss measured by thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA) is higher for the PA‐coated silica compared to the untreated filler, confirming the deposition of the PA film on the silica surface. Time of flight‐secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) shows the well‐defined PA cluster peaks in the high mass region. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements show silica aggregates, coalesced by the coating with smooth and uniform surfaces, but without significant change in specific surface area. Elemental analysis by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurements also confirms the deposition of the polymeric film on the silica surface, as the carbon content is increased. The performance of single polymers and their incompatible blends based on S‐SBR and EPDM, filled with untreated, PA‐ and silane‐treated silica, is investigated by measurements of the bound rubber content, weight loss related to bound rubber, cure kinetics, reinforcement parameter, Payne effect, and mechanical properties. The PA‐ and silane‐modified silica‐filled pure S‐SBR and EPDM samples show a lower filler–filler networking compared to the unmodified silica‐filled elastomers. Decrease in the reinforcement parameter (α_F) for the plasma‐polymerized silica‐filled samples also proves a better dispersion compared to silane‐modified and untreated silica‐filled samples. On the other hand, the PA‐silica‐filled samples show a higher bound rubber content due to stronger filler–polymer interactions. Finally, the PA‐silica‐filled pure EPDM and S‐SBR/EPDM blends show high tensile strength and elongation at break values, considered to be the result of best dispersion and compatibilization with EPDM. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A model study on effect of glucose on the basic characteristics and physical properties of natural rubber

Glucose at various concentrations was incorporated into sugar free purified natural rubber (PNR) latex to model the effect of carbohydrate on the basic characteristics and physical properties of natural rubber (NR). PNR samples treated with various concentrations of glucose were characterized for the basic properties of unvulcanized NR, i.e., gel content, molecular weight distribution and Mooney viscosity to evaluate the effect of sugar on these parameters. In addition, the effect of glucose on the physical properties of vulcanizates derived using sulfur and peroxide vulcanization was investigated. Glucose was shown to affect the viscosity of unvulcanized NR and the discoloration of vulcanized NR. Moreover, glucose was found to have a strong effect on crosslink density, as well as tensile and dynamic properties of sulfur vulcanizates, while those properties of peroxide vulcanizates was not much affected by glucose.     

Analysis of wax solubility of rubber vulcanizates using wax solution in toluene and molten wax

Wax is commonly used as an antidegradant for rubber materials by formation of an impervious barrier. Wax solubilities in natural rubber (NR), styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), and butadiene rubber (BR) vulcanizates were measured using wax solution in toluene and molten wax. Wax solubilities using molten wax were much higher than those using wax solution in toluene. The wax solubility of NR vulcanizate was higher than those of SBR and BR. Parameters influencing wax solubility were the solvent swell, rubber fraction and filler type as well as the rubber type. Molecular weight distribution of the dissolved wax was different from that of the raw wax; the dissolved waxes with lower molecular weights were relatively higher than the raw ones. We believe that wax solubility and molecular weight distribution of the dissolved wax can be widely used for determining the wax type and content.     

Molecular Structures and Mechanical Properties of Microbe Rapid Coagulation Natural Rubber

In this work,molecular structures,dynamic mechanical properties and glass transition temperatures of microbe coagulated natural rubber(NR) samples were analyzed by using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(py-GC/MS),rubber process analyzer(RPA) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis(DMA).And the cross-linked network structures and mechanical properties of the corresponding NR vulcanizates were further determined by using nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) crosslink density spectrometer(XLDS-15) and universal testing machines.The results show that NR raw rubber produced by rapidly coagulated with microorganism exhibits a simple molecular structure composition and good dynamic mechanical properties,and the corresponding NR vulcanizates possess the aggregation structure of high cross-linked density,a high glass transition temperature of-61.5 ℃ and high mechanical properties(tensile strength reaches 25.2 MPa),as compared with that coagulated with acetic acid.     

Diffusion and permeability of aldehydes into blends of natural rubber and chemically modified low molecular weight natural rubber

Low molecular weight natural rubber (LMWNR) obtained from natural rubber (NR) by depolymerization of natural rubber latex (NRL) was modified by epoxidation to 35% epoxide level to yield epoxidized low molecular weight natural rubber (ELMWNR). The ELMWNR was in turn modified in a solution of thioglycollic acid (TGA) (0.5 mol phr) to yield a product of 20% conversion of its initial LMWNR epoxide. Blends of NR with LMWNR, ELMWNR and epoxidized low molecular weight natural rubber thioglycollic acid (ELWMNR‐TGA) adduct were made. The mixes were vulcanized at 150°C for 20 min before determining the system parameters (n and k), the sorption (S), diffusion (D) and permeability (P) of the vulcanizates in acetaldehyde and formaldehyde solutions at three different temperatures (25, 40 and 60°C) for a period of 90 days. The sorption, diffusion and permeability of the vulcanizates were found to be temperature dependent. The vulcanizates containing ELMWNR were found not to be easily penetrated by both acetaldehyde and formaldehyde when compared with base mix A that is vulcanizates with only NR. The reaction system was found not to be spontaneous but dependent on the activation energies. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.