Can rubbers be dissolved in a solvent and cured to get respectable physical properties?
I wanted to see if I can cure polar rubbers by blending the ingredients in a suitable solvent. The thought originated with how some rubbers aren't really available in their latex form. What do you think should be the parameters one should take care when using a solvent like Toluene when dissolving rubber chemicals like sulfur and accelerators?
rubber cement has been around a long time and is close to what you are describing - but is often a latex. Silicone rubbers that air cure from solution are also available. Some thermoplastic elastomers have been solvent cast as well.
James E Hanson I have been trying to cure Epichlorohydrin Rubbers into films after dissolving in toluene and using a sulfur based cure system. But the films keep sticking to themselves. Do you happen to know of any methods by which I can peel them off easily so they maintain their dimensions?
Rubber cement is used in tyre factories on daily bases. Green rubber compound based on NR, SBR, BR is typically used. In case of cured rubbers soluability is limited. What is backround of question ? Feel free to contact me.
Yes, dissolving Rubber in toluene is also used in industry, to make coated fabrics. There are some applications where NBR and EPDM rubbers are dissolved and spreaded onto various substrates. Also CR is sometimes dissolved ti obtain adhesives.
There are no particular parameters to be considered in the Lab, dissolving is made at room temperature, and viscosity Is kept at around 20k or 50k cps, in order to have enough material to be deposited and viscosity high enough to allow proper mixing and even distribution of all ingredients.
About the films, It Is complicated to not make them stick to each other, even after curing. Try to increase their thickness, which would make them easier to handle, or cover them with an antitack agent
Epichlorohydrin rubber is a copolymer of epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide - so it may be different than the poly Olefin rubbers in rubber cement. I'm not as familiar with these!
Arjun, you have to balance the equation so that you get proper cure (enough crosslinking of the unsaturated bonds), then dry the film before peeling.
Arjun, At first you need to disolved rubber in the solvent properly and make a homogeneous mixture and then which heat continusly whenever little gel type mixture will not made , then cooled down the mixture. Now use compress moulding machine but use only normal heat and use sulphur accordingly.if sheet has more stiffness, then use small quantity of curing agent(sulphur). Sulphur has generally used 0.4 phr in the 100phr rubber, but you are need to use according stiffness which you want
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