Preparation of thermoplastic vulcanizates based on waste crosslinked polyethylene and ground tire rubber through dynamic vulcanization

An environmental‐friendly approach called high‐shear mechanical milling was developed to de‐crosslink ground tire rubber (GTR) and waste crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE). The realization of partial devulcanization of GTR and de‐crosslinking of XLPE were confirmed by gel fraction measurements. Fourier transform infrared spectral studies revealed that a new peak at 1723.3 cm^?1 corresponds to the carbonyl group (? C?O) absorption was appeared after milling. The rheological properties showed that the XLPE/GTR blends represent lower apparent viscosity after mechanical milling, which means that the milled blends are easy to process. Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) could be prepared with these partially de‐crosslinked XLPE/GTR composite powders through dynamic vulcanization. The mechanical properties of the XLPE/GTR composites increased with increasing cycles of milling. The raw XLPE/GTR blends could not be processed to a continuous sheet. After 20 cycles of milling, the tensile strength and elongation at break of XLPE/GTR (50/50) composites increased to 6.0 MPa and 185.3%, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites have been further improved to 9.1 MPa and 201.2% after dynamic vulcanization, respectively. Re‐processability study confirmed the good thermoplastic processability of the TPVs prepared. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Preparation of rubber composites from ground tire rubber reinforced with waste‐tire fiber through mechanical milling

Composites made from ground tire rubber (GTR) and waste fiber produced in tire reclamation were prepared by mechanical milling. The effects of the fiber content, pan milling, and fiber orientation on the mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The results showed that the stress‐induced mechanochemical devulcanization of waste rubber and the reinforcement of devulcanized waste rubber with waste‐tire fibers could be achieved through comilling. For a comilled system, the tensile strength and elongation at break of revulcanized GTR/fiber composites reached maximum values of 9.6 MPa and 215.9%, respectively, with 5 wt % fiber. Compared with those of a composite prepared in a conventional mixing manner, the mechanical properties were greatly improved by comilling. Oxygen‐containing groups on the surface of GTR particles, which were produced during pan milling, increased interfacial interactions between GTR and waste fibers. The fiber‐filled composites showed anisotropy in the stress–strain properties because of preferential orientation of the short fibers along the roll‐milling direction (longitudinal), and the adhesion between the fiber and rubber matrix was improved by the comilling of the fiber with waste rubber. The proposed process provides an economical and ecologically sound method for tire‐rubber recycling. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 4087–4094, 2007     

Effects of shear stress and subcritical water on devulcanization of styrene–butadiene rubber based ground tire rubber in a twin‐screw extruder

The devulcanization reaction of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) based ground tire rubber (GTR) in GTR/ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber (EPDM) blend was investigated through a compound‐induced reaction by increasing screw rotation speed and being in the presence of subcritical water. The effects of temperature, pressure, screw rotation speed, or promoting agents on the gel content, Mooney viscosity, and Fourier transform infrared spectra of the sol of the devulcanized blends (devulcanized ground tire rubber (DGTR)/EPDM) were measured, and the mechanical properties and microstructures of the revulcanized blend ((DGTR/EPDM)/SBR) were characterized. The results show that subcritical water as a swelling agent and reaction medium promotes the devulcanization reaction, increases the selectivity of the crosslink breakage, keeps the extrusion material from oxidative degradation, reduces the gel particle size of the devulcanized blends, and significantly improves the mechanical properties of the revulcanized SBR/(DGTR/EPDM) blends. In subcritical water, the suitable promoting agents (alkylphenol polysulfide 450, hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂, or 450/H₂O₂) accelerate the devulcanization reaction, keep the double bond content, and lead to further decrease of the gel content and Mooney viscosity of the devulcanized blends and further increase of the mechanical properties of the revulcanized SBR/(DGTR/EPDM) blends. Especially the compound promoting agent (450/H₂O₂) improves the selectivity of the crosslink breakage in devulcanization of SBR‐based GTR. When 450/H₂O₂ is added as a compound promoting agent at the best reaction condition in subcritical water (200°C, 1.6 MPa and 1000 rpm), the tensile strength and elongation at break of the revulcanized SBR/(DGTR/EPDM) blends reach to 85.4% and 201% of vulcanized SBR (24.0 MPa, 356%), respectively. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1845–1854, 2013     

Mechanochemical devulcanization of ground tire rubber and its application in acoustic absorbent polyurethane foamed composites

The use of recycled rubber in preparation of acoustic absorbent materials will help to combat the existing environmental problems of both waste disposal and noise pollution. The focus of this work is to investigate the influence of mechanochemical pretreatment of ground tire rubber (GTR) on the acoustic absorption properties of polyurethane (PU)/GTR foamed composites. GTR subjected to pan‐milling could be mechanochemically devulcanized by breaking up the crosslinked structures through inducing fairly strong shearing and compressing forces. The significant increase in sol fraction of GTR confirmed the partial devulcanization during pan‐milling. Moreover, thermal gravimetric analysis indicated that rubber content in the soluble part of GTR was also remarkably increased. The devulcanization increased flexible chains of the GTR particles, which could help to improve damping properties as well as acoustic absorption ability of the PU/GTR foamed composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis and acoustic absorption measurements well confirmed this hypothesis. The loss modulus and sound absorption coefficient of PU/GTR foamed composites were remarkably increased through the mechanochemical pretreatment of GTR. The mechanochemical pretreatment also enhanced foamability of the composites as revealed by cell morphology. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

单螺杆挤出机连续脱硫制备再生胶的结构与性能

利用本课题组研制的单螺杆挤出机,对废旧轮胎胶(GTR)粉进行连续脱硫制备再生胶(DGTR),并对DGTR进行再硫化制成DGTR硫化试样.结果显示,随螺杆转速增加,DGTR凝胶含量和DGTR硫化试样交联密度逐渐降低,DGTR硫化试样的拉伸强度和拉断伸长率有所提高;螺杆转速设定为40 r·min^-1时,在205℃脱硫温度下取得了最好的脱硫效果,DGTR硫化试样的拉伸强度和拉断伸长率分别约为11 MPa和386%.从红外光谱和光电子能谱的分析结果推测,在单螺杆挤出机的剪切和热等的共同作用下,GTR粉中部分S-S键和C-S键发生了断裂.     

Continuous ultrasonic devulcanization of NR/SBR blends

The ultrasonic devulcanization of sulfur‐cured natural rubber (NR)/styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) blends was studied with the goal of understanding the devulcanization of rubber vulcanizates in which two networks of different natures were present. Also, similarities and differences in the devulcanization behaviors of NR, SBR, and their blends were found. During the devulcanization of cured NR/SBR blends, we observed that, as for NR, the ultrasonic power consumption for 75/25 and 50/50 (w/w) NR/SBR blends passed through a maximum at 7.5 μm. For SBR and 25/75 (w/w) NR/SBR blends, the power consumption increased with increasing ultrasonic amplitude. The higher power consumption led to a higher degree of devulcanization. The crosslink densities of the devulcanized 25/75, 50/50, and 75/25 (w/w) NR/SBR blends were lower than those of the devulcanized NR and SBR, possibly because of the reduced degree of unsaturation. The tensile properties of the revulcanized blends were lower than those of the virgin vulcanized blends. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 160–168, 2002     

轮胎胶应力诱导脱硫化及PE-HD动态交联热塑性弹性体制备

采用在废旧轮胎胶粉(GTR)与高密度聚乙烯(PE-HD)的熔融挤出过程中提高双螺杆挤出机螺杆转速的高剪切应力诱导方法,研究了双螺杆挤出机的螺杆转速、挤出反应温度及脱硫促进剂仲丁醇、烷基酚多硫化物(420或450)和正丁胺对轮胎胶脱硫共混物的凝胶含量、熔体流动速率、溶胶红外吸收光谱及轮胎胶脱硫共混物/三元乙丙橡胶(EPDM)动态交联热塑性弹性体力学性能的影响。结果表明:高转速同向双螺杆挤出机的高剪切作用可诱发废旧轮胎胶共混物中交联网络的断链和解交联反应,引起脱硫共混物凝胶含量的下降、未熔融凝胶颗粒尺寸的减小及熔体流动速率的增加;4种促进剂均具有明显促进脱硫反应的作用,其中450或正丁胺的促进脱硫效果较好,并引起脱硫共混物凝胶含量下降、熔体流动速率上升及动态交联热塑性弹性体力学性能的明显改善;当以正丁胺为脱硫促进剂时,最佳脱硫反应条件(240℃和1000r/min)下,脱硫共混物/EPDM动态交联热塑性弹性体的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率分别达到12.5MPa和440.6%。     

轮胎胶应力诱导脱硫及其对PP热塑性弹性体力学性能的影响

在轮胎胶粉熔融挤出过程中添加不同品种的热塑性弹性体作为溶胀剂和承载流体,并通过提高挤出机螺杆转速的高剪切应力诱导方法,研究了螺杆转速和挤出反应温度对脱硫轮胎胶共混物的凝胶含量、溶胶红外吸收光谱及聚丙烯（PP）/脱硫轮胎胶共混物热塑性弹性体力学性能的影响。结果表明,以乙烯-辛烯共聚物为承载流体时,所制备的PP动态交联热塑性弹性体的性能最好;仲丁醇、多烷基苯酚二硫化物或仲丁醇与多烷基苯酚二硫化物复合使用,均能促进脱硫反应的进行,并引起脱硫共混物中凝胶含量的减少、双键结构含量的增加和PP动态交联热塑性弹性体力学性能的明显增大;在转速为1000 r/min、温度为240 ℃的脱硫条件下,PP/脱硫轮胎胶共混物热塑性弹性体的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率分别达到11.2 MPa和123.2 %。     

Improvement of the properties of natural rubber/ground tire rubber composites through biological desulfurization of GTR

The surface desulfurization of ground tire rubber (GTR) had been carried out via a biological treatment by Thiobacillus sp. with strong sulfur oxidizing capacity. The bonding states and element content on the surface of GTR and desulfurated GTR (DGTR) were evaluated using an X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The contact angle of GTR was 120.5° and decreased down to 93.5° after treatment. The cure characteristics, swelling behavior, and crosslink density of natural rubber (NR)/GTR and NR/DGTR were examined. The improvement in mechanical properties was observed for NR/DGTR vulcanizates, which was attributed to the enhanced interfacial interaction between DGTR and NR matrix. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed that NR/DGTR vulcanizates had a reduction of molecular chain friction resistance during glass transition region and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies further indicated a good coherency and homogeneity between DGTR and NR matrix.     

Reclaiming of ground rubber tire by a novel reclaiming agent. I. virgin natural rubber/reclaimed GRT vulcanizates

Mechanochemically devulcanized ground rubber tire (GRT) was (re)vulcanized in compositions with virgin natural rubber (NR). The NR/GRT (re)vulcanizates with GRT content from 20 to 60 wt% have been prepared and studied. Reclaiming of GRT was successfully carried out by tetra methyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD) in presence of spindle oil at around ambient temperature. The cure characteristics and mechanical properties of the virgin NR/reclaim GRT blend were studied. The optimum cure time decreases but scorch time remain unaltered with increasing reclaim rubber content in the blend. Effect of carbon black was studied in NR/RR (80/20) blend. Ageing characteristics of different NR/RR blends were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies further indicate the coherency and homogeneity in the NR/RR vulcanizate. The dynamic mechanical properties and swelling behavior of NR/RR blend vulcanizates were examined. The elastic and storage modulus of the NR/RR vulcanizates become improve with increasing reclaim rubber content. Electrical properties of NR/RR vulcanizates were also studied. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1091–1100, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

反式聚辛烯橡胶改性天然橡胶/顺丁橡胶共混胶的性能

研究了反式聚辛烯橡胶(TOR)改性天然橡胶(NR)/顺丁橡胶(BR)(二者质量比80/20)共混胶的性能.结果表明,采用5～15份(质量,下同)TOR改性NR/BR混炼胶的门尼黏度逐渐降低、Payne效应基本不变,共混胶的焦烧时间和工艺正硫化时间延长、硫化速率减慢.相比NR/BR硫化胶,NR/BR/TOR硫化胶的拉伸强...     

Enhancement of processability and foamability of ground tire rubber powder and LDPE blends through solid state shear milling

The foamed composites made from low-density polyethylene(LDPE) and ground tire rubber(GTR) powder using azodicarbonamide as chemical blowing agent have been investigated. Solid state shear milling was used to enhance the processability and foamability of LDPE/GTR blends by a pan-mill type mechanochemical reactor. First the blends of LDPE/GTR were prepared by co-milling, then the samples were melt-mixed in a Brabender Plasti-Corder, saturated with blowing agent, crosslinking agent and blowing co-agent, and finally the saturated specimens were expanded during the pressure-quench process. The results indicated that the mechanical properties of the LDPE/GRT foamed composites were improved, and the blends of co-milled GTR and LDPE powder showing better processability and foamability than those obtained in a conventional melt-mixing manner, as indicated by the rheological and morphological studies.     

Mechanochemical preparation of devulcanized ground fluoroelastomers for the enhancement of the thermal stability of nitrile–butadiene rubber vulcanizates

Mechanochemically devulcanized ground fluoroelastomer (FKM) was used as a low‐cost functional additive for the enhancement of the thermal stability of nitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) vulcanizates. Without the use of any chemicals, the stress‐induced mechanochemical devulcanization of ground FKM was achieved through solid‐state mechanochemical milling at ambient temperature. The sol fraction of the ground FKM was increased from its original 1.4 to 19.8% after milling; this confirmed the realization of the mechanochemical devulcanization of FKM. Moreover, the oxygen‐containing polar groups on the surface of the mechanochemically milled FKM benefitted its interfacial adhesion with the polar NBR matrix. The curing characteristics and mechanical properties of the devulcanized, FKM‐filled NBR vulcanizates were investigated and compared with those of the untreated FKM‐filled NBR vulcanizates. The results show that the mechanical properties of the devulcanized FKM‐filled NBR vulcanizates were much better than those of the untreated FKM‐filled NBR vulcanizates. The presence of the reclaimed FKM significantly increased the onset degradation temperature of the NBR vulcanizates as a result of the improved polymer–filler interaction, uniform dispersion, and high thermal stability of the reclaimed FKM. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

用于全钢子午线轮胎胎侧胶的反式-1,4-聚异戊二烯/天然橡胶/顺丁橡胶并用胶的性能

研究了不同反式-1,4-聚异戊二烯(TPI)用量对用于全钢子午线轮胎胎侧胶的TPI/天然橡胶(NR)/顺丁橡胶(BR)并用胶力学性能、动态力学性能和热老化性能的影响,并对并用胶进行了配方优化。结果表明,当TPI/NR/BR的并用比(质量比)为15.0/42.5/42.5时,混炼胶外表光滑,硬度适中;TPI/NR/BR并用胶的硫化特性与NR/BR并用胶相比变化不大,且在保持后者力学性能的基础上,动态力学性能明显提高;经配方优化后,并用胶耐屈挠性优异,滚动阻力、压缩生热降低,是一种较为理想的全钢子午线轮胎胎侧胶材料。     

Continuous ultrasonic devulcanization of unfilled butadiene rubber

The devulcanization of sulfur‐cured unfilled butadiene rubber (BR) with a grooved‐barrel ultrasonic reactor under various processing conditions was carried out. The experiments indicated that BR had a narrow devulcanization window. Outside this window, significant degradation or no devulcanization occurred. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements were carried out with the sol part of virgin and devulcanized samples to study the breakdown of the polymeric chains. The GPC data showed a significant molecular weight reduction and a broadening of the molecular weight distribution upon devulcanization, indicating that the devulcanization and degradation of BR occurred simultaneously. The rheological properties showed that devulcanized BR was more elastic than the virgin gum. The vulcanizates of the blends of virgin and devulcanized BR showed a considerable enhancement of the mechanical properties. The thermal behaviors of the virgin and devulcanized BR were found to be different. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1166–1174, 2004     

铁系乙烯基丁二烯橡胶/天然橡胶共混物的性能

研究了铁系乙烯基丁二烯橡胶(FVBR)与天然橡胶(NR)以50/50(质量比)共混硫化胶的物理机械性能和黏弹特性,并与溶聚丁苯橡胶(SSBR)与NR共混胶进行了对比。结果表明,FVBR与NR有良好的相容性,共混胶只存在1个玻璃化转变温度。FVBR/NR的混炼行为良好,但必需添加操作油,否则难以获得理想的硫化胶性能。FVBR/NR与SSBR/NR相似,不仅具有良好的拉伸和撕裂性能,而且具有高抗湿滑性;其生热和滚动阻力以及热老化性能优于后者,但耐磨性略逊于SSBR/NR。     

Friction and wear behavior of styrene butadiene rubber‐based composites reinforced with microwave‐devulcanized ground tire rubber

In this work, the tribological properties of a new material obtained by revulcanization with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and devulcanized ground tire rubber (GTR) were investigated. GTR was devulcanized using the microwave method at a constant power while varying the microwave exposure time. Devulcanized rubber (DV‐R) and untreated GTR were revulcanized by mixing with SBR at different rates (10, 30, 50 phr). To determine friction and wear characteristics of the samples, pin (ball) on disc and abrasion tests were conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe the worn surfaces of the composites to correlate the experimental test results to the wear mechanisms. All of these tests and experiments were performed on original vulcanized rubber samples for comparison. The composites exhibited different friction and wear behavior due to morphology, dispersion behavior and devulcanization functionalization of ground tire rubber. In general, DV‐R/SBR composites exhibited improvement in both mechanical and tribological properties. However, the enhanced compatibility of DV‐R resulting from the specific chemical coupling of DV‐R with SBR was crucial for the mechanical, friction and wear properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42419.     

The effect of devulcanization level on mechanical properties of reclaimed rubber by thermal‐mechanical shearing devulcanization

Ground tire rubber (GTR) with crosslinked structure has hardly any plasticity and processability, which makes its property very poor. Thermal‐mechanical shearing devulcanization method can effectively destroy the crosslinked structure and restore GTR a certain extent of plasticity and processability. This article investigated the characteristic and reprocessing performance of reclaimed rubber prepared through thermal‐mechanical shearing devulcanization. The relationship between the devulcanization level (indicated by gel fraction and crosslink density) and the mechanical property was analyzed by sufficient experiments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analyzer studies revealed the chemical structure of GTR changed and many complex reactions occurred after devulcanization. The gel permeation chromatography indicated the specific changes of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution in devulcanization process. The differential scanning calorimetry revealed various vulcanized abilities and vulcanized structures of reclaimed rubber. The scanning electron microscope further confirmed the recovery of plasticity after devulcanization and the distinct vulcanized structures between revulcanizates. The determination of devulcanization level and mechanical properties verified that mechanical properties especially tensile strength reached to the optimum value only at an appropriate devulcanization level. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of hydrogenated natural rubber/natural rubber blends

The cure characteristics and mechanical properties of blends consisting of hydrogenated natural rubber (HNR) and natural rubber (NR) blends were investigated. The HNR/NR blends at 50/50 wt ratio were vulcanized using various cure systems: peroxide vulcanization, conventional vulcanization with peroxide, and efficient vulcanization with peroxide. The HNR/NR vulcanizates cured by the combination of peroxide and sulfur donor (tetramethylthiuram disulfide, TMTD) in the efficient vulcanization with peroxide exhibited the best mechanical properties. It was also found that the hydrogenation level of HNR did not affect the tensile strength of the vulcanizates. The tensile strength of the blends decreased with increasing HNR content because of the higher incompatibility to cause the noncoherency behavior between NR and HNR. However, the HNR/NR vulcanizate at 50/50 wt ratio showed the maximum ultimate elongation corresponding to a co‐continuous morphology as attested to by scanning electron micrographs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

亚临界流体挤出法复合诱导SBR基轮胎胶脱硫化及 再硫化材料力学性能

在SBR基轮胎胶(GTR)与三元乙丙橡胶（EPDM）混合物的熔融挤出过程中,采用改变亚临界流体品种和提高螺杆转速的方法,研究了亚临界流体（水,乙醇,丙醇）、螺杆转速、烷基酚多硫化物促进剂（450）以及温度对脱硫共混物（DGTR/EPDM）凝胶含量、门尼粘度、溶胶红外光谱及脱硫共混物共混丁苯橡胶（SBR）再硫化材料（SBR/(DGTR/EPDM)）力学性能的影响,对再硫化材料的试样断面形貌也进行了SEM观察。实验结果表明：亚临界流体（水,乙醇,丙醇）作为一种溶胀剂和反应性介质能够很好地促进脱硫反应,提高交联键断裂的选择性,降低脱硫产物的凝胶含量和凝胶颗粒尺寸并明显提高脱硫共混物共混丁苯橡胶再硫化材料的力学性能,其中亚临界乙醇的作用最显著。当450作为一种脱硫促进剂,在最优亚临界乙醇挤出反应条件（200℃,1.6 MPa,600 rpm）下,脱硫共混物共混丁苯橡胶分别达到丁苯生胶混炼硫化材料拉伸强度（24.0MPa）和断裂伸长率（356%）的99.6%和209%。