Nanoalloy Based on Clays: Intercalated‐Exfoliated Layered Silicate in High Performance Elastomer

A novel method is described for the preparation of nanocomposites comprising a high performance rubber for tire application and layered silicates clay. In this work nanocomposites of solution‐styrene butadiene rubber (S‐SBR) with montmorillonite layered silicate were prepared with carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR), a polar rubber, as a compatibilizer. A sufficient amount of organomodified layered silicate was loaded in carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) and this compound was blended as a master batch in the S‐SBR. Mixed intercalated/exfoliated morphologies in the nanocomposite are evinced by X‐ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy. Dynamic mechanical analysis also supports the compatibility of the composites. A good dispersion of the layered silicate in the S‐SBR matrix was reflected from the physical properties of the nanocomposites, especially in terms of tensile strength and high elongation properties.     

液体聚异戊二烯的合成与应用研究进展

固态橡胶具有较高的分子量、强度及伸长率,在工业和日常生活中均得到广泛应用.然而,固态橡胶黏度较高,在应用中往往必须引入添加剂.而液体聚异戊二烯是一种液态橡胶,可以作为固态橡胶的软化剂;得益于其特殊的形态和性能,液体聚异戊二烯可望在多方面得到应用.对液体聚异戊二烯的合成与应用进行了评述.     

Trans-stereospecific polymerization of butadiene and random copolymerization with styrene using borohydrido neodymium/magnesium dialkyl catalysts

The combination of a neodymium borohydride, Nd(BH₄)₃(THF)₃ (1) or Cp^*Nd(BH₄)₂(THF)_x (2), with MgⁿBuEt (BEM), affords an efficient and highly selective (up to 96.7% 1,4-trans) catalyst for butadiene polymerization. In the presence of excesses of Mg co-catalyst, polymer chain transfer takes place between neodymium and magnesium, and significant amounts of 1,2-units are observed. When considered for butadiene-styrene statistical copolymerization, the catalytic system based on 2 showed a good ability to produce poly[(1,4-trans-butadiene)-co-styrene)], with strong impact of the Mg/Nd ratio on the yield and on the copolymer microstructure, including the percentage of inserted styrene (up to 16.9 mol%). Whatever the co-monomers concentration the polybutadiene backbone remained 1,4-trans. The precise microstructure of the polymers and copolymers was thoroughly analyzed by means of high resolution NMR spectroscopy (900 MHz) and MALDI-ToF spectrometry.     

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.     

Filler effects on the thermomechanical response of stretched rubbers

This paper deals with the calorimetric analysis of deformation processes in filled styrene-butadiene rubbers. More especially, the study focuses on the effects of the addition of carbon black fillers on the calorimetric response of “demullinized” SBR. Temperature variations are measured by infrared thermography during cyclic uniaxial tensile tests at ambient temperature. Heat sources¹ produced or absorbed by the material due to deformation processes are deduced from temperature fields by using the heat diffusion equation. First, the results show that no mechanical (intrinsic) dissipation is detected for weakly filled SBR, meaning that the heat produced and absorbed over one mechanical cycle is the same whatever the stretch ratio reached. Second, the mechanical dissipation in highly filled SBR is significant. The quantitative analysis carried out highlights the fact that it increases quasi-linearly with the stretch ratio. Finally, a simplified framework is proposed to discuss the identification of the heat sources, in particular the mechanical dissipation.     

Ternary blends based on poly (ethylene-naphthalate)/glass fibers/nitrile rubber: Preparation,properties and effect of dynamic vulcanization

This work studied the possibility of utilizing nitrile rubber (NBR) to modify the impact properties of poly (ethylene-naphthalate) (PEN). The PEN/NBR ratio used changed from 100/0 to 60/40. At the same time, glass fibers (GF), 40% weight of the PEN component, were used to reinforce the blends to compensate for the loss of mechanical properties of PEN by incorporation of NBR. The results showed that the impact strength of the PEN/GF/NBR blend (PEN/NBR = 60/40) was increased up to 27.6J/m, nearly 5 times higher than that of the neat PEN. Meanwhile, the tensile strength and flexural strength were still maintained at as high as 66.1 MPa and 98.2 MPa, respectively. Dynamic vulcanization further improved the mechanical properties of the PEN/GF/NBR blends, which provided routes to the design of new PEN/elastomer blends. Other properties of the PEN/GF/NBR blends were also investigated in terms of morphology of fractured surface, dynamic mechanical behavior, thermal stability and crystallization, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively.     

Adsorption of Nonionic Surfactant from Its Aqueous Solution onto Commercial Rubber

Adsorption of Ethoxylated Nonyl Phenol (ENP) surfactant from its aqueous solution onto a commercial tire cutting from different sites. Outer Peristalitic (O.P.), Outer Smouth (O.S.), and Internal Tire (I.T.) is studied after different immersion times, 24, 48, 72, and 144 hrs at 30° C. The adsorption isotherms are determined by a surface tension method. A two stepped L-type isotherm is characteristic below the CMC of ENP; above this concentration the isotherm deviates from the L-type and the slope of the isotherm increases sharply. A Langmuir fit has been found below the CMC of ENP. From the maximum amounts adsorbed at pseudo-plateau (T_max of the tested samples it was found that the efficiency of adsorption onto the rubber surface decreases in the order, O.P. > O.S. > I.T.