STUDY ON THE APPLICATION OF EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER

Abstract

The epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) is a novel rubber, which is acquired by the chemical modification of natural rubber. ENR has as excellent oil resistance, low gas permeability, low rolling resistance, and good wet grip performance and so on. But the aging property of ENR is poor. In this study, three aspects about the application of ENR are reported. (1) Using ENR as rubber matrix or interfacial agent, “green tire” composites with decreased rolling resistance and improved wet skid resistance were developed. (2) To expand the use of ENR in addressing the electromagnetic pollution in both civil and military fields, ENR-based functional elastomers with superior electromagnetic properties (i.e. lower percolation threshold, higher microwave absorption capacity and broader effective bandwidth) were fabricated via self-assembly integrated latex blending and thermodynamics tailored nanoparticles distribution approaches. (3) Using rare earth antioxidant to improve the anti-aging properties of ENR. Because of the complexion reaction between rear earth ion and oxygen atom in the epoxy, the stability of epoxide groups in ENR, as well as the resistance to oxidation, can be greatly enhanced. Compared with the common used antioxidant, rare earth antioxidant has such advantages as good protective effect, non-toxic, environmental protection. Keywords: ENR, application, green tire, dielectric elastomers, rare earth antioxidant, rubber, epoxy, latex