The influence of Ni/Nd-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst on microstructure configurations and properties of butadiene rubber

The Crystallization and Melting Behavior of Neodymium-Based Butadiene Rubber Blends

This study investigates the influence of poly(butadiene-isoprene) copolymer rubber (BIR) and TDAE oil on the crystallization and melting behavior of neodymium-based butadiene rubber (Nd-BR). The study demonstrates that the melting points of Nd-BR and its blends decrease with lower crystallization temperatures. Below the critical crystallization temperature (Tc,c), the melting behavior shows dual peaks in distinct temperature ranges, which are attributed to different spherulitic sizes. The addition of BIR or TDAE oil lowers the Tc,c, with TDAE oil exerting a more substantial effect. These diluents mainly influence the nucleation temperature and crystallinity level of Nd-BR while having a minimal effect on the crystallization mechanism. A master curve, which overlaps for various samples, is developed by correlating the peak melting temperature (Tm,peak) with the Tc. This curve facilitates a quantitative assessment of the effects of BIR and TDAE oil on Nd-BR, highlighting the greater influence of TDAE oil on the crystalline structure compared with BIR at equivalent mass fractions. By applying the Lorentz equation and multi-peak fitting, a relationship between the melting points and crystallization temperatures is established, enabling the calculation of the equilibrium melting points (Tm0) for different samples. The findings show a reduction in the Tm0 due to the diluents; specifically, the Tm0 is approximately 0 °C for pure Nd-BR, and it decreases to -4.579 °C and -6.579 °C for samples with 50 PHR TDAE oil and 60 wt.% BIR, respectively.

Study on the Crystallization Behavior of Neodymium Rare-Earth Butadiene Rubber Blends and Its Effect on Dynamic Mechanical Properties

Utilizing neodymium-based butadiene rubber as a baseline, this study examines the effect of eco-friendly aromatic TDAE oil, fillers, and crosslinking reactions on neodymium-based rare-earth butadiene rubber (Nd-BR) crystallization behavior. The findings suggest that TDAE oil hinders crystallization, resulting in decreased crystallization temperatures and heightened activation energies (Ea). The crystallization activation energies for 20 parts per hundreds of rubber (PHR) and 37.5 PHR oil stand at -116.8 kJ/mol and -48.1 kJ/mol, respectively, surpassing the -264.3 kJ/mol of the unadulterated rubber. Fillers act as nucleating agents, hastening crystallization, which in turn elevates crystallization temperatures and diminishes Ea. In samples containing 20 PHR and 37.5 PHR oil, the incorporation of carbon black and silica brought the Ea down to -224.9 kJ/mol and -239.1 kJ/mol, respectively. Crosslinking considerably restricts molecular motion and crystallization potential. In the examined conditions, butadiene rubber containing 37.5 PHR oil displayed no crystallization following crosslinking, albeit crystallization was discernible with filler inclusion. Simultaneously, the crystallinity level sharply declined, manifesting cold crystallization behavior. The crosslinking process elevates Ea, while the equilibrium melting point (Tm0) noticeably diminishes. For instance, the Tm0 of pure Nd-BR is approximately -0.135 °C. When blended with carbon black and silica, the Tm0 values are -3.13 °C and -5.23 °C, respectively. After vulcanization, these values decrease to -21.6 °C and -10.16 °C. Evaluating the isothermal crystallization kinetics of diverse materials via the Avrami equation revealed that both the oil and crosslinking process can bring about a decrease in n values, with the Avrami index n for various samples oscillating between 1.5 and 2.5. Assessing the dynamic mechanical attributes of different specimens reveals that Nd-BR crystallization notably curtails its glass transition, marked by a modulus shift in the transition domain and a decrement in loss factor. The modulus in the rubbery state also witnesses a substantial augmentation.

Effect of Dilution on the Crystallization Kinetics of Neodymium-Based Rare Earth Polybutadiene Rubber

The crystallization behavior of neodymium-based rare earth polybutadiene rubber (Nd-BR) is studied in the presence of small-molecule treated distillate aromatic extract (TDAE) and high-molecular-weight polybutadiene-isoprene copolymer rubber (BIR). Pronounced inhibitory effects on the crystallization of Nd-BR are exhibited by both materials, as evidenced by reductions in the crystallization temperature (Tc), melting point (Tm), and corresponding enthalpy change. It is found that, at equal concentrations, a greater influence on the crystallization rate is exerted by TDAE oils, whereas nucleation inhibition is more potently affected by BIR. Incomplete crystallization during cooling is exhibited by Nd-BR when the TDAE oil concentration reaches 40 parts per hundreds of rubber (PHR) (31 wt.%), or BIR achieves a 60 wt.% concentration; subsequently, a noticeable cold crystallization phenomenon is observed upon heating. Insights into the isothermal crystallization kinetics are offered by the data, which reveal that the Avrami index n value for Nd-BR predominantly ranges between 2.5 and 3.0. A decrease in the n value is induced by a small amount of TDAE oil, while a noticeable decline in the n value is observed only when the BIR concentration is 60 wt.%. A correlation between the crystallization activation energy, the concentration of TDAE oil and BIR, and the crystallization temperature is established; a negative activation energy is recorded, and a decrease in the crystallization rate is noted when both concentrations are low and the crystallization temperature exceeds -50 °C. In contrast, positive activation energy and an increase in the crystallization rate are observed when the BIR concentration reaches 60%, and the crystallization temperature resides between -50 °C and -70 °C.

BUTADIENE RUBBER: SYNTHESIS, MICROSTRUCTURE, AND ROLE OF CATALYSTS

Butadiene rubber (BR) is one of the most useful and second most produced rubber worldwide. Polymerization of 1,3-butadiene (BD) is a highly stereospecific reaction that offers a wide variety of BR with different microstructures and influences the fundamental properties of the rubber. Since the first successful polymerization of conjugated diene using the Ziegler–Natta–based catalyst (TiCl4 or TiCl3 with aluminum alkyls) in 1954, the research on producing synthetic rubber with an appropriate catalyst system has been accelerated. Subsequently, various research groups are actively engaged in designing active catalyst systems based on a suitable combination of transition metal complexes with alkyl-aluminum and successfully using them in BD polymerization. Although various scientific inventions have proven their significance for the production of high-quality BR, with the rising demands in improving the quality of the product, research on developing new catalyst systems with enhanced catalytic activity and high stereoselectivity is still in progress. The present review focuses on the synthesis of BR using various transition metal catalysts and discusses their microstructures. The catalysts based on new-generation metal complexes with phosphorus, nitrogen, and oxygen donor ligands (e.g., phosphines, imines, 1,10-phenanthroline, and imino-pyridines) have been introduced. The role that catalysts play in the production of BR with different microstructures (i.e., high-cis, high-trans or low-cis, low-trans polybutadiene) has also been described. The combination of catalyst (transition metal complex) and suitable co-catalyst (alkyl-aluminum) is the major factor influencing the reaction and microstructure of the resulting polymer. This report focuses on the effect of transition metal catalysts (i.e., lithium [Li], titanium [Ti], zirconium [Zr], iron [Fe], cobalt [Co], nickel [Ni], and neodymium [Nd]) on the activity and stereoselectivity of polymers such as 1,4-cis-, 1,4-trans-, and 1,2-vinyl-polybutadiene.

Study on the Effect of Zinc on the Rheological, Mechanical and Thermal Properties and Fire Hazard of Unfilled and Filled CR/BR Vulcanizates

This paper discusses the cross-linking and functional properties of elastomer composites containing chloroprene rubber (CR) and butadiene rubber (BR) cured in the presence of zinc (Zn) and reinforced with mineral fillers. The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of zinc as a new cross-linking substance with the simultaneous production of elastomer materials with good mechanical properties and a reduced fire hazard. The article concerns the study and explanation of the dependencies influencing the processing and functional properties of unfilled or filled elastomer blends containing different elastomers ratio or different zinc’s amount. The following fillers were used: silica, kaolin, chalk and montmorillonite. The results revealed that the cross-linking degree of CR/BR blends decreased with the increasing amount of butadiene rubber in the blends. The mechanical properties of the cured blends depended on the proportion of elastomers in the composites, the zinc amount, and the presence and type of filler. The flammability of CR/BR/Zn vulcanizates has been investigated before and after the filling. The parameters assessed by the oxygen index method and cone calorimetry, characterizing the behavior of the tested CR/BR/Zn vulcanizates under fire conditions, have shown that they constitute a low fire hazard and can be considered as non-flammable materials.