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.     

Stress relaxation of polybutadiene at large deformation. Measurements of stress and birefringence in shear and elongation

The rheological behavior of an uncrosslinked polybutadiene on sudden application of finite strain was examined. The shear stress σ, two components of birefringence, and the extinction angle were measured in shear (magnitude of shear γ ≤ 3.5) and tensile stress and the birefringence were measured in uniaxial elongation (elongation ratio λ ≤ 3.8). Measurements were performed at 30°C with a tensile tester equipped with appropriate sample holders. The stress-optical coefficient was 3.01 × 10^?9Pa^?1. The first and second normal-stress differences v₁ and v₂ were separately evaluated with the use of stress-optical law. The Lodge—Meissner relation v₁ = γσ held good. The ratio v₂/v₁ was independent of time and varied from about ?0.3 to ?0.2 with increasing γ in the range of measurements. Each of the stress components was factored into a function of strain and one of time, and the latter was common to all the stress components. Simple formulas were proposed to represent stress components in step deformations.     

Anisotropy of NMR relaxation,and diffusion,of penetrants in stretched cis-polyisoprene

We have measured ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR relaxation times T₁, T_1ρ, and T₂, and diffusion constants, in trace penetrants hexafluorobenzene and n-hexadecane dissolved in stretched cis-polyisoprene, as function of temperature, rubber elongation, and angle with respect to the stretch direction. Values of T₁ and T₂ in the rubber were also measured. At all temperatures (—40 ≤ T ≤ 85°C), T₁ in rubber and penetrants is isotropic and independent of elongation; the differences between rubber and penetrants are related to penetrant diffusion. All T₂ above—15°C are anisotropic and elongation dependent, and follow a motional narrowing model. For the penetrants, averaging the dipolar interactions implies averaging over a diffusion path; this correctly reproduces the observed much higher T₂ anisotropy in the penetrants. Penetrant diffusion rates, however, are essentially isotropic and elongation independent. These effects depend only weakly on the shape of the penetrant molecules.     

Emission of occluded volatiles during deformation of polycarbonate due to strain-enhanced diffusion

Measurements of the emission of purposely entrained volatiles (Ar and D₂O) during the loading and unloading of a bisphenol-A polycarbonate in vacuum are made by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Transient loading events are accompanied by dramatic increases in emission, reflecting a similar rise in the diffusion constant of the measured species. We attribute this change to an increase in size of molecular voids in the polymer network, which accompany the increase in sample volume under load. The results are interpreted in terms of the Dolittle relation in which the diffusion constant depends exponentially upon v^*/v_f0, the ratio between an activation volume for diffusion and the average size of the relevant voids in the polymer network. Our data suggests that v^*/v_f0 is unusually low in the D₂O-polycarbonate system, which we attribute to a relatively large value of v_f0; this would be consistent with the relatively long distance between flexible links in the polycarbonate structure. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Pyrolysis of polyisoprenes. I. Differentiation between natural and synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprenes

Two methods of differentiating between natural rubber and synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprenes have been examined. Both techniques depend on the presence of Ziegler-Natta catalyst residues in the synthetic polymers. The major pyrolysis product of cis-1,4-polyisoprenes at 350°C is 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)cyclohexene. This can undergo disproportionation to yield 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)benzene and methyl-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexenes. It is this disproportionation reaction, catalyzed by Ziegler-Natta catalyst residues or by carbon black, that is responsible for the different product ratios obtained on pyrolysis of natural rubber and Ziegler-Natta catalyzed cis-1,4-polyisoprenes. Lithium alkyl-polymerized polyisoprenes undergo this secondary disproportionation reaction only in the presence of carbon black. Derivative thermogravimetric traces of black-filled sulfur vulcanizates of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprenes are significantly different because polymerization catalyst residues promote cyclization of the polymer.     

The Use of Thermogravimetry in the Study of Rubber Devulcanization

Thermogravimetry was employed to study the changes occurring in rubber vulcanizates during devulcanization carried out by microwave treatment, a new promising method of recycling rubber waste. The thermogravimetric parameters T _i , T ₅ and T _p and the compositions of devulcanizates in comparison with vulcanizates were determined. The results obtained allowed estimation of the degree of destruction of the polymer chains in response to microwave treatment and permitted establishment of the most advantageous conditions of devulcanization in order to obtain the best properties of rubber devulcanizates for reuse in rubber processing. The results demonstrated that thermogravimetry is a very useful method for investigation and control of the microwave devulcanization process. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermo-oxidative aging in surface layer of cis-1,4-polybutadiene vulcanizates

A study of the microstructural changes occurring in the surface layer of cis-1,4-polybutadiene (BR) vulcanizates during thermo-oxidative aging in the temperature range of 120–180°C was carried out by using optical microscope, SEM, MIR–IR, XPS, and swelling. The physical properties, structural changes, and interreaction between rubber and filler (clay) in the surface layer comparing with the center bulk of BR vulcanizates are observed.     

Transient permeation of organic vapors through elastomeric membranes

The permeation of benzene and acetone vapors through sulfur-cured natural rubber was studied by the time-lag method. The experimental results were analyzed by a method suggested by Meares. The zero concentration diffusion coefficient D₀ was obtained by the early-time method. The Frisch time-lag equation was utilized to estimate both the solubility coefficient s and the additional parameter b required to define the concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficient: D(c) = D₀ exp {bc}. This form of concentration dependence was manifested by the corresponding permeability coefficient values. At low entering penetrant pressure, where the transport coefficients are constant, indirect evidence was obtained that D₀ is the mechanistically correct diffusion coefficient. The solubility coefficient values calculated for benzene vapor in natural rubber are in reasonable agreement with published equilibrium sorption data for a similar rubber compound. At higher entering penetrant pressures, average diffusion coefficients obtained at steady state tended to be larger than the corresponding average diffusion coefficients derived from the time lags. This same effect has been detected by other experimental approaches. Permeation experiments designed for this rapid method of analysis appear capable of yielding information consistent with that obtained by more time-consuming traditional methods.     

Synthesis and anti-aging property in acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber of non-aromatic dendritic antioxidant with amine groups

A novel kind of antioxidant with dendritic structure and amine groups for acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) was synthesized via the combination of Michael addition and nucleophilic reactions. Structures of the synthesized non-aromatic dendritic antioxidants, namely first-generation (1.0 G), second-generation (2.0 G), third-generation (3.0 G) dendritic polyamidoamine (DPAMAM) and hyperbranched polyamidoamine (HPAMAM), were confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Hydrogen Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H NMR). Anti-aging properties of the antioxidants for NBR vulcanizates were evaluated by accelerated thermal aging tests and extraction resistance tests. The decomposition of vulcanizates containing dendritic antioxidants were investigated by thermogravimetric (TGA) curves, and the thermo-oxidative aging kinetic parameters were calculated by the Dakin-Ozawa-Doyle (DOD) method. Compared with conventional aromatic antioxidant N-isopropyl-N′-phenyl-p-phenylene diamine (4010NA), the anti-aging properties of 1.0 G and 2.0 G DPAMAM were at the same level, while that of 3.0 G DPAMAM and HPAMAM were further improved. Meanwhile, HPAMAM and 3.0 G PAMAM showed better extraction resistance in NBR vulcanizates than 4010NA, thus indicating superior anti-aging performances. Maximum service temperatures (T_max) under 30 years of service life span of NBR vulcanizates containing HPAMAM and 3.0 G DPAMAM were 219°C and 221°C, 15°C and 17°C higher than that of sample with 4010NA respectively.     

Permeation,diffusion, and solution of cyclopropane in silicone rubber

Permeability, solubility, and diffusion coefficients have been determined for cyclopropane (c-C₃H₆) in silicone rubber at temperatures between ?8 and 70°C at relative pressures from 0.04 to 0.30. The permeability coefficients, , are of the order of 10^?6 cm³ (STP) · cm/(s · cm² · cmHg). increases slightly with increasing penetrant pressure and decreases with increasing temperature, the energy of activation for permeation being ?1.27 kcal/gmol at zero pressure. The solubility of cyclopropane in silicone rubber can be represented over the experimental concentration range by the Flory-Huggins equation. The solubility decreases with increasing temperature and the partial molar heat of solution is ?4.95 kcal/gmol. The solubility coefficient in the Henry's law limit, S(0), for cyclopropane and many other gases and vapors can be correlated with (T_c/T)², where T and T_c are the experimental and critical temperatures, respectively. The mutual diffusion coefficients, D, increase with increasing concentration and temperature, the energy of activation for diffusion being 3.68 kcal/gmol. The pressure dependence of &\[\bar P\] is described satisfactorily by a free-volume model proposed by Fujita and extended by Stern, Frisch, and coworkers. The permeability, diffusion, and solubility behavior of cyclopropane in silicone rubber is similar to that of propane (C₃H₈).     

Ultimate tensile properties of elastomers. VII. Effect of crosslink density on time–temperature dependence

Data on tensile strength and elongation at break for a series of Viton A-HV vulcanizates are discussed. The data were obtained at various extension rates at temperatures from ?5 to 230°C (25 ? T — T_g ? 260°C) on seven vulcanizates having crosslink densities v_e (estimated from C₁ in the Mooney-Rivlin equation) from 0.46 × 10^?5 to 24.4 × 10^?5 mole/cm³. At an extension rate of 1 min^?1, an increase in v_e affects the tensile strength σ_b (based on the undeformed cross-sectional area) and the true tensile strength σ_bσ_b (based on the cross-sectional area of a deformed specimen) as follows: σ_b is essentially constant at a low temperature; it passes through a decided maximum at intermediate temperatures; and it increases to a plateau at elevated temperatures. In contrast, λ_bσ_b decreases markedly at all temperatures, an exception being the most lightly crosslinked vulcanizate(s). Application of time—temperature superposition to the ultimate-property data gave log a_T; its temperature dependence is that typical of nonpolar rubbery polymers. Data on the vulcanizates were compared in corresponding temperature states by plotting log 273σ_b/T, log 273λ_bσ_b/T, and (λ_b — 1)/(λ_b — 1)_max against logt_b/(t_b)_max, where t_b is the temperature-reduced time to break and (t_b)_max is the value at which the ultimate extension ratio λ_b attains its maximum, (λ_b)_max. Except for the most lightly crosslink vulcanizate, the comparison shows that 273λ_bσ_b/T and (λ_b — 1)/(λ_b — 1)_max are substantially independent of (or only weakly dependent on) crosslink density, that 273λ_b/T increases with v_e, and that 273λ_b/T ∝? v_e^0.6 and λ_b ∝? v_e^?0.4 at a large value of t_b/(t_b)_max.     

TEM observation of nonamphiphilic copolymer micelles

Light scattering and transmission electron microscope (TEM) measurements were preformed for micelles of a nonamphiphilic poly(vinylphenol)-block-polystyrene diblock copolymer (PVPh-b-PSt) to determine the shape of the micelles. The micelles were prepared by the self-assembly of the copolymer in 1,4-dioxane, a nonselective solvent, in the presence of 1,4-butanediamine. The logarithm of the normalized time correlation function of the scattered field, lnG₁(τ), linearly decayed versus the delay time, τ. The diffusion coefficient measured in the range of the scattering angles from 30° to 150° was almost independent of the square of the magnitude of the scattering vector. The linear decay of lnG₁(τ) vs τ and the angular-independence of the diffusion coefficient suggested that the monodisperse spherical micelles were formed by the micellization. The TEM observations confirmed the formation of uniform spheres.     

Effect of crosslink density on the creep behavior of natural rubber vulcanizates

Torsional creep measurements on four natural rubber vulcanizates, crosslinked to different degrees, were carried out in the temperature range from ?50 to 90°C. This investigation complements the studies on identical samples of the stress relaxation behavior by Chasset and Thirion and of the dynamic mechanical response by Ferry, Mancke, Maekawa, ōyanagi, and Dickie. The creep measurements reported are shown to be in agreement with the stress relaxation results. In addition to the usual temperature reduction, a superposed curve was obtained for the long time response using the apparent molecular weight between crosslinks, M_c, as a reduction variable. The variation in viscoelastic response with crosslink density is interpreted as a restrictive action of the chemical crosslinks on the transient entanglement network.     

Structure and properties of star‐shaped solution‐polymerized styrene‐butadiene rubber and its co‐coagulated rubber filled with silica/carbon black‐I: morphological structure and mechanical properties

The morphological structure and mechanical properties of the star‐shaped solution‐polymerized styrene‐butadiene rubber (SSBR) and organically modified nanosilica powder/star‐shaped SSBR co‐coagulated rubber (N‐SSBR) both filled with silica/carbon black (CB) were studied. The results showed that, compared with SSBR, silica powder could be mixed into N‐SSBR much more rapidly, and N‐SSBR/SiO₂ nanocomposite had better filler‐dispersion and processability. N‐SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates displayed higher glass‐transition temperature and lower peak value of internal friction loss than SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates. In the N‐SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates, filler was dispersed in nano‐scale resulting in good mechanical properties. Composites filled with silica/CB doped filler exhibited more excellent mechanical properties than those filled with a single filler because of the better filler‐dispersion and stronger interfacial interaction with macromolecular chains. N‐SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates exhibited preferable performance in abrasion resistance and higher bound rubber content as the blending ratio of silica to CB was 20:30. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Oil Recovery Application of Biosurfactant Produced by Indigenous <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> WJ-1 Using Waste Vegetable Oils

A bacterial strain was isolated and cultured from the oil excavation areas in tropical zone in northern China. The biochemical characteristics and partial sequenced 16S rRNA gene of isolate, WJ-1, was identical to those of cultured representatives of the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium was able to produce a type of biosurfactant. Compositional analysis revealed that the extracted biosurfactant was composed of high percentage lipid (∼74%, w/w) and carbohydrate (∼20%, w/w) in addition to a minor fraction of protein (∼6%, w/w). The best production of 50.2 g/l was obtained when the cells were grown on minimal salt medium containing 6.0% (w/v) glucose and 0.75% (w/v) sodium nitrate supplemented with 0.1% (v/v) element solution at 37 °C and 180 rpm after 96 h. The optimum biosurfactant production pH value was found to be 6.0–8.0. The biosurfactant of WJ-1, with the critical micelle concentration of 0.014 g/L, could reduce surface tension to 24.5 mN/m and emulsified kerosene up to EI₂₄ ≈95. The results obtained from time course study indicated that the surface tension reduction and emulsification potential was increased in the same way to cell growth. However, maximum biosurfactant production occurred and established in the stationary growth phase (after 90 h). Thin layer chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and mass spectrum analysis indicate the extracted biosurfactant was affiliated with rhamnolipid. The core holder flooding experiments demonstrated that the oil recovery efficiency of strain and its biosurfactant was 23.02% residual oil.     

Microbial desulfurization of SBR ground rubber by Sphingomonas sp. and its utilization as filler in NR compounds

Microbial desulfurization of waste tyre rubber has been investigated with great efforts since 1990s, because waste rubber has created serious ecological and environmental problems. A microbial desulfurization technique for SBR ground rubber has been developed by a novel sulfur‐oxidizing bacterium Sphingomonas sp. The adaptability of Sphingomonas sp. with SBR ground rubber was tested with the amounts of SBR ground rubber varying from 0.5 to 4% g/l. The sol fraction of desulfurized SBR ground rubber increased 70%, compared with SBR ground rubber without desulfurization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy‐attenuated total reflectance (FTIR‐ATR) spectrum and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the desulfurized surface of vulcanized SBR flakes revealed that not only the oxidation of crosslinked S? S and S? C bonds, but also the rupture of C?C double bonds had happened to SBR vulcanizates during microbial desulfurization. The cure characteristics, such as scorch time and optimum cure time of natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates filled, were found to decrease with increasing contents of desulfurized SBR ground rubber, due to some reactive groups on its surface. NR vulcanizates filled with desulfurized SBR ground rubber had lower crosslink density and hardness, higher tensile strength and elongation at break, compared with those filled with SBR ground rubber of the same amount. Dynamic mechanical properties indicated that there were better crosslink distribution and stronger interfacial bonding between NR matrix and desulfurized SBR ground rubber. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs showed that the fracture surfaces of NR vulcanizates filled with desulfurized SBR ground rubber had more smooth morphologies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Functional polyisobutylenes via electrophilic cleavage/alkylation

Lewis‐acid catalyzed degradation of poly(isobutylene‐co‐isoprene) (butyl rubber) in the presence of an alkoxybenzene compound was studied as a new route toward low molecular weight multifunctional polyisobutylenes. Simultaneous cleavage and functionalization of butyl rubber was conducted at ?70 °C and ?40 °C under TiCl₄ or AlCl₃ catalysis in 60/40 hexane/methylene chloride cosolvents in the presence of (3‐bromopropoxy)benzene (BPB) for various times up to 24 h. The butyl rubber (EXXON? Butyl 365) possessed M _n = 1.91 × 10⁵ g/mol, PDI = 1.66 (GPC/MALLS), and 2.30 mol % isoprene units (nearly exclusively trans ?1,4). At ?70 °C with TiCl₄, molecular weight was reduced to various values within the range 7 to 11 × 10³ g/mol depending on conditions; lower BPB concentration produced lower molecular weight. However, the ratio of isobutylene repeat units to BPB units (IB/Q ) remained constant at about 43:1, which is approximately the same as the ratio of isobutylene to isoprene repeat units (IB/IP) in the starting butyl rubber (42.5:1). At ?40 °C with TiCl₄, molecular weight was reduced to about 5 × 10³ g/mol, and IB/Q was reduced below IB/IP, indicating nearly a difunctional telechelic structure. AlCl₃ was a more active catalyst and produced results similar to TiCl₄ at ?40 °C, even when used at seven times lower concentration. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1991–1997     

Preparation and characterization of polypropylene and waste tire powder modified by allylamine blends

Waste tire powder subjected to allylamine modification in the presence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been used to prepare polypropylene based thermoplastic vulcanizates with maleic anhydride polypropylene (MA‐PP) as compatibilizer. The effect of increasing the concentration of MA‐PP on performance characteristics like tensile strength, elongation and rheological properties have been investigated. X‐ray diffraction studies of the PP/waste tire powder blend indicate the disappearance of β crystalline peaks on addition of waste tire powder in the PP, whereas it is observed in the allylamine modified rubber powder loaded PP. Differential scanning calorimetry results further supported the above fact. The improvement in mechanical properties of the PP/allylamine modified rubber powder loaded thermoplastic vulcanizates has been explained in terms of βα transformation of PP crystals during straining of the samples and uniform dispersion of allylamine coated rubber powder in the PP matrix. The melt rheological properties of the thermoplastic vulcanizates loaded with modified rubber powder are higher than its counterpart due to the higher dispersion as a result of chemical interaction between the rubber powder surface with the MA‐PP. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crystal Transformation and Development of Tensile Properties upon Drawing of Poly(L-lactic acid) by Solid-State Coextrusion: Effects of Molecular Weight

Melt-crystallized films of poly(L -lactic acid) (PLLA) with M_v in the range of 3.8 ∼ 46 × 10⁴ consisting of α-form crystals were uniaxially drawn by solid-state coextrusion. The effects of M_v, extrusion draw ratio (EDR), and extrusion temperature (T_ext) on the crystal/crystal transformation from α- to β-form crystals and the resultant tensile properties of drawn products were studied. The crystal transformation proceeded with EDR and more rapidly for the higher M_v's. Furthermore, the crystal transformation proceeded most rapidly with EDR at a T_ext around 130 °C, independently of the M_v's. As a result of the optimum combination of processing variables influencing the the crystal transformation (M_v, T_ext, and drawability), highly oriented films consisting of β-form crystals alone were obtained by coextrusion of higher M_v samples at T_ext's slightly below the melting temperature (150 ∼ 170 °C) and at higher EDR's > 11. Both the tensile modulus and strength increased rapidly with EDR. The modulus at a given EDR was slightly higher for the samples with higher M_v's. In contrast, the strength at a given EDR was remarkably higher for the higher M _v's. The highest tensile modulus of 8.0 GPa and strength of 500 MPa were obtained with the sample of the highest M_v of 46 × 10⁴ coextruded at 170 °C to the highest EDR of 14.     

Tensile properties and equilibrium swelling of plasticized amorphous polyurethane rubbers

Incorporation of plasticizers or other inert, liquid diluents causes a profound weakening of rubbers. The modulus of elasticity and tensile strength decrease approximately with the square of the gel fraction v₀ of rubber which was present at the time of formation of the three-dimensional network. Equlibrium swelling of plasticized rubbers is well represented by v_2m = kv₀, where v_2m is the volume fraction of rubber network in the swollen state, at equlibrium, and k a constant equal to v_2m for the unplasticized rubber. This swelling law is independent of the way in which v₀ is obtained; inert liquid diluents, comprising molecularly dispersed compounds, as well as suspensions of insoluble liquids, gases, and chemically inert, solid fillers yield the same relation. Further, it is independent of the chemical nature of solvent and rubber. It appears that also the mechanical properties of foams, liquid-filled foams, and plasticized elastomers containing the same volume fraction of network rubber are very similar.