Mechanochemical Devulcanization of Vulcanized Gum Natural Rubber

Abstract

De-vulcanization of vulcanized elastomers represents a great challenge because of their three-dimensional network structure. Sulfur-cured gum natural rubbers containing three different sulfur/accelerator ratios were de-vulcanized by thio-acids. The process was carried out at 90 °C for 10 minutes in an open two-roll cracker-cum-mixing mill. Two concentrations of de-vulcanizing agent were tried in order to study the cleavage of the sulfidic bonds. The mechanical properties of the re-vulcanized rubber (like tensile strength, modulus, tear strength and elongation at break) were improved with increasing concentrations of de-vulcanizing agent, because the crosslink density increased. A decrease in scorch time and in optimum cure time and an increase in the state of cure were observed when vulcanized rubber was treated with high amounts of de-vulcanizing agent. The temperature of onset of degradation was also increased with increasing concentration of thio-acid. DMA analysis revealed that the storage modulus increased on re-vulcanization. From IR spectroscopy it was observed that oxidation of the main polymeric chains did not occur at the time of high temperature milling. Over 80% retention of the original mechanical properties (like tensile strength, modulus, tear strength and elongation at break) of the vulcanized natural rubber was achieved by this mechanochemical process.