ULTRAFINE SCRAP TIRE RUBBER IN NOVEL THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS AND THERMOSET RUBBER COMPOUNDS

摘要

Novel thermoplastic elastomers and thermoset compounds can be produced and manufactured on a large scale from Ultra Fine Scrap Tire Rubber (UFSTR). The key to these novel materials is the extremely small particle size of the finely ground rubber, i.e. 140 mesh, 200 mesh, and 325 mesh, or approximately 100 micron, 75 micron, and 45 micron respectively. These very small rubber particles are more easily incorporated into polymer alloys or rubber and plastics due to the much increased surface area and polymer particle interaction. This incorporation can be further enhanced with various compatibilization techniques, both reactive and non-reactive. Additionally, these very small rubber particles can be reintroduced back into thermoset rubber applications with little or no loss of performance properties. Physical property, rheological, and dynamic data is presented and discussed for both thermoplastic and thermoset materials at a number of conditions in a designed experiment format.