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.