Replacement of virgin rubbers by waste ground vulcanizates in blends of silicone rubber and fluororubber based on tetrafluoroethylene/propylene/vinylidene fluoride terpolymer

This study reports the results of investigations on blends of silicone rubber and fluororubber based on tetrafluoroethylene/propylene/vinylidene fluoride terpolymer and the effects of replacement of silicone rubber and/or fluororubber in their 50/50 blend by the respective vulcanizate powders of known compositions. To simulate the aging condition of factory wastes, the silicone rubber or fluororubber vulcanizates were aged for 72 h at 200°C and then converted into powder by mechanical grinding. The fluororubber vulcanizate powder (FVP), mostly spherical in shape with average diameter varying between 2 and 10 μm, exists in a highly aggregated state displaying chainlike structures that, however, break down during blending with virgin rubbers. The silicone rubber vulcanizate powder (SVP) is irregular in shape, with larger particles in the range of 30–100 μm, and the smaller particles exist in highly aggregated chainlike structures, as in the case of FVP, which break down during milling to mostly spherical particles of 2–10 μm in diameter. Measurements of physical properties reveal that the blends of silicone rubber and fluororubber are technologically compatible. SEM photomicrographs of THF‐etched samples show the biphasic structure of the blends, in which the fluororubber forms the dispersed phase in a continuous silicone rubber matrix of lower viscosity. Replacement of silicone rubber in the 50/50 silicone rubber/fluororubber blend by its vulcanizate powder (SVP) increases the Mooney viscosity, but replacement of fluororubber in the blend by its vulcanizate powder (FVP) has little effect on the Mooney viscosity. Monsanto rheometric studies reveal that replacement of silicone rubber by SVP or fluororubber by FVP in the 50/50 silicone rubber/fluororubber blend increases the minimum rheometric torque but decreases the maximum torque, and the effect is more pronounced in the case of SVP. Furthermore, the replacement of silicone rubber in the blend by SVP causes a decline in the physical properties (25% replacement causing about 10% decline in properties, for example), whereas even 75% replacement of fluororubber by FVP has little effect on the physical properties. When both silicone rubber and fluororubber are partially replaced by SVP and FVP in the same blend, properties of the resulting blend composition are controlled more by SVP incorporation, whereas fluororubber replacement has only a marginal effect on blend properties. It is evident from dynamic mechanical spectra that the blends are immiscible in all compositions and addition of SVP or FVP does not affect the glass–rubber transitions of the constituent polymers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2326–2341, 2001     

In situ analysis of volatiles obtained from the catalytic cracking of polyethylene

The effects of the solid‐acid‐catalyst pore size and acidity on polyethylene catalytic cracking were examined with a comparison of the temperature‐dependent volatile‐product‐slate changes when the polymer was cracked with HZSM‐5 and HY zeolites and the protonated form of MCM‐41. Volatile‐product distributions depended on the catalyst acidity and pore size. With HZSM‐5, paraffins were detected initially, and olefins were produced at somewhat higher temperatures. Aromatics were formed at temperatures 30–40°C higher than those required for olefin production. Small olefins (C₃–C₅) were the most abundant products when HZSM‐5 and MCM‐41 catalysts were employed for cracking polyethylene. In contrast, cracking with HY produced primarily paraffin volatile products (C₄–C₈). HY pores were large enough and the acid sites were strong enough to promote disproportionation reactions, which led to the formation of volatile paraffins. Compared with the other catalysts, HZSM‐5 with its smaller pores inhibited residue formation and facilitated the production of small alkyl aromatics. Volatile‐product variations could be rationalized by a consideration of the combined effects of catalyst acidity and pore size on carbenium ion reaction pathways. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 3118–3125, 2001     

Recycling of EPDM waste. II. Replacement of virgin rubber by ground EPDM vulcanizate in EPDM/PP thermoplastic elastomeric composition

Virgin ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber in a thermoplastic elastomeric blend of polypropylene (PP) and EPDM rubber was substituted by ground EPDM vulcanizate of known composition, after which the mechanical properties of the raw EPDM/waste EPDM/PP blends were determined. The ratio of the rubber content in the waste EPDM (r‐W‐EPDM) to the raw EPDM (R‐EPDM) in the blends was varied from 0 : 100 to 45 : 55. Attempts to replace higher amounts (>45%) of R‐EPDM by W‐EPDM failed because of processing difficulty. Although a drop in mechanical properties of the blends was observed at lower loadings of W‐EPDM, the properties showed improvement at intermediate W‐EPDM loadings. The R‐EPDM/W–EPDM/PP blends were found to be reprocessable. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 3304–3312, 2001     

Recycling of commingled plastics waste containing polypropylene,polyethylene, and paper

Polymer waste recycling is a major technical problem, because large amounts of synthetic polymers are produced every day and polymeric wastes are gathered from municipal solid wastes. There are a few polyolefins, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) with huge amounts of paper in the waste materials. In order to recycle the commingled plastics waste that contains paper, hydrolytic treatment is needed prior to conventional processing. In this project, the optimum conditions of hydrolytic treatment of paper and the mechanical properties and morphological state of different compositions of PP high‐density PE (HDPE) blends with paper were studied. Ethylene‐propylene‐diene copolymer (EPDM) was added to improve the mechanical properties of blends. The results show that the hydrolytic treatment of paper improves the mechanical properties, such as the tensile strength and modulus of the PP/HDPE/paper composites relative to the untreated samples, and up to 30% paper can be added to commingled PP and HDPE blends. The EPDM was used as an impact modifier. The plastics waste containing paper can be used in applications such as artificial wood. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2573–2577, 2001     

Dissolution/reprecipitation: A model process for PET bottle recycling

A dissolution/reprecipitation route was followed for the recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Model experiments on virgin material, either in the form of pellets or blow‐molded bottles, are presented. The process proposed comprises dissolution of the plastic in an appropriate solvent, reprecipitation by using a nonsolvent, thorough washing of the material obtained, and drying. The solvent mixtures involved are separated by fractional distillation for further reuse. N‐Methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP)/n‐octane + n‐hexane proved to be a particularly effective solvent/nonsolvent system. Further investigation was focused on the effect of the sample history through successive recycling cycles. The recycled material was evaluated in terms of molecular weight, crystallinity, and grain‐size analysis, resulting in an excellent quality, competing with the virgin grade. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 91–95, 2001     

利用聚氨酯泡沫复合废料制造板材的研究

用热压工艺将汽车车顶饰件生产过程中的聚氨酯泡沫复合废料制成板材,研究了板材的性能与热压工艺之间的关系。试验结果表明,当热压温度为150℃以上时,板材的弯曲强度可以达到15－28MPa,板材的吸水率为0－2％,密度为1．0－1．2g/cm^3,其强度与中密度纤维板相当,密度则高于纤维板,吸水率大大低于纤维板。这种板材可望在分园设施,家具,音呼同材料方面获得应用。     

锆改性玉米苞叶强化吸附水体中的四环素

以农业废弃物玉米苞叶为原料,用氯氧化锆对其进行改性,用于去除水体中的四环素。采用SEM、FTIR对改性前后的玉米苞叶进行了表征,并研究了溶液初始pH、温度等因素对四环素吸附的影响。结果表明:改性过程使玉米苞叶表面结构发生变化,显著提高了其对四环素的吸附量。在30℃,四环素溶液初始pH=5的条件下,吸附量为54.1 mg/g。在293~313 K的温度范围内,吸附量随温度的升高而升高,等温吸附曲线符合Freundlich模型;吸附过程符合伪二级动力学模型。     

涪陵页岩气田开发建设水污染防控探索与实践

页岩气作为新兴、绿色、清洁能源,近年来在全球范围内得到越来越多的关注。从目前国内外页岩气开发情况来看,除开发工艺技术难度大以外,其开发过程中的水污染防控和工业废水的处理也是影响页岩气产业发展的当务之急。如何实现经济高效处理页岩气污水和实现水循环利用,对页岩气的长远发展和当地环境保护有着举足轻重的意义。结合中国石化涪陵页岩气田环境保护,特别是水污染防控工作实践,从页岩气开采工艺过程出发,对水污染防控措施、污水处理工艺和污水的减量循环利用进行了探讨和研究。     

织金磷矿稀土分离试验研究

为回收织金磷矿中的稀土资源,进行了用磷酸分离织金磷矿中磷与稀土的试验研究。介绍了试验原理、工艺流程。试验结果表明,磷浸出率大于95%,约83%的稀土富集在渣中,渣中稀土氧化物质量分数大于50%,达到了分离磷与稀土的目的。     

Decomposition mechanisms of cured epoxy resins in near‐critical water

A reaction mechanism based on the near‐critical water homolysis of bonds in the cured epoxy followed by the saturation of the resulting radicals by hydrogen abstraction from the donor was discussed. The compounds evolved during degradation were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometer. The materials prepared possess the characteristics of thermosets, due to the presence of ether groups in the polymer chains, which were broken at the beginning of degradation. The degradability increased when the reaction time and reaction temperature increased. Based on the experimental results, a probable macroscopic mechanism was proposed. The near‐critical water degradation mechanisms of polymers consist of three categories: random scission, unzipping, and side group elimination, which simultaneously occurs in the reactor. The first random scission of links caused a molecular weight reduction of the raw polymer, the second side‐group elimination caused the generation of the volatile product, and the last unzipping produced either fragmentation to smaller oligomeric units or unzipping all the way to monomers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41648.