Based on transalkylation reaction the rearrangeable conventional sulfur network facile design for vulcanized diolefin elastomers

Abstract

AbstractAchieving the reversibility of conventional sulfur crosslinking network is beneficial for the sustainability of rubber products. However, sulfur crosslinking network has been considered as an irreversible network. Here, natural rubber (NR) is chosen as an example and trimethylsulfonium iodide (TMSI) can enable the transalkylation reaction between aliphatic sulfonium salts and the alkyl chains of vulcanized NR, which further realizes the rearrangements of sulfur crosslinking network in the elastomers. Such rearrangement reaction enhances the interfacial adhesion and fuse the fractured surface of vulcanized NR. Moreover, the rearrangements of sulfur crosslinking network induced by TMSI conforms to the characteristics of vitrimer network. This work solves the rearrangement problem of conventional sulfur crosslinking network, which is beneficial for the sustainability of rubber products.