Influence of TMTD on Cross-Linking Degradation of the Waste Tire Rubber

Abstract

The paper studied the thermal mechanical shearing of waste tire rubber (WTR) by tetra methyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD), a reclaiming agent. The results showed that the mooney viscosity, gel content and crosslink density of the WTR decreased with the increasing TMTD amount. The mechanical properties of recycled rubber were best in the amount of 1% TMTD, which could reach 14MPa and 368%, respectively. The molecular weight of WTR was analyzed by gel permeation chromatorgraphy (GPC). The molecular weight of rubber dropped more faster when the content of TMTD from 0.5% to 1%. The plausible reaction mechanism of TMTD on the process of cross-linking degradation was predicted based on the changes of the mooney viscosity, gel content, crosslink density and the relation between the molecular weight and the Raman spectroscopy of the sol fraction.