María D. Romero-Sánchez

Adhesion improvement of SBR rubber by treatment with trichloroisocyanuric acid solutions in different esters

Abstract Ethyl, propyl and butyl acetates (EA, PA, BA, respectively) were used as solvents for trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) to chlorinate styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR). Characterization of the treated surfaces was carried out using ATR-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and contact angle measurements. Stress-strain measurements were also carried out to determine the mechanical properties of the treated rubber. Adhesion properties were studied using a polyurethane adhesive and the failed surfaces obtained after performing T-peel tests were analyzed in order to precisely locate the joint failure. The results showed that the solvent is a key factor in the effectiveness of the chlorination of R2 rubber. The solvents with slower evaporation rate led to more pronounced modifications on the R2 rubber surface. But these solvents could favour the migration of wax from the bulk rubber to the surface creating a weak antiadherent layer that prevented adhesion. The increase in TCI percentage in the chlorinating solution produced more marked modifications on the R2 rubber surface, avoiding the migration of wax. The solvent in the chlorinating solution also affects the effectiveness of the zinc stearate elimination from the R1 rubber surface; however, good adhesion was obtained even though this compound was not completely removed, indicating that the presence of zinc stearate in the rubber formulation did not produce a detrimental effect in the adhesion of SBRs.

Surface modifications of a vulcanized rubber using corona discharge and ultraviolet radiation treatments

Two different surface treatments have been applied to a synthetic vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (R1): corona discharge and UV treatment. Corona discharge treatment has been carried out on R1 rubber by varying the electrode-sample distance (2–4 mm), the duration (1 to 11 sec) and several parameters in the treatment of R1 rubber with UV treatment (lamp-sample distance between 1 and 5 cm, the duration between 30 sec and 5 min). The effects on both treatments on the surface of R1 were analyzed using contact angle measurements, ATR-IR spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). A noticeable decrease in contact angles was observed on the R1 rubber by applying both treatments, although the modifications produced on the rubber surface were different. Corona discharge mainly affected the morphology of the R1 rubber surface whereas UV treatment mainly modified its chemistry. The migration of zinc stearate was only produced by UV treatment but not with corona discharge. Therefore, the UV treatment of R1 rubber was more aggressive, facilitating the migration of moieties from the bulk to the surface and producing oxygen moieties.

UV treatment of synthetic styrene-butadiene-styrene rubber

The effectiveness of the treatment with ultraviolet light (UV) on several polymeric surfaces has previously been established. In this study, a low pressure mercury vapour lamp was used as a source of UV radiation for the surface treatment of a difficult-to-bond block styrenebutadiene-styrene rubber (S6), the treatment time ranging from 10 s to 30 min. The UV-treated S6 rubber surfaces were characterized by contact angle measurements (ethylene glycol, 25°C), ATR-IR spectroscopy, XPS, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). T-peel tests on UV-treated S6 rubber/polyurethane (PU) adhesive/ leather joints (before and after ageing) were carried out to quantify adhesion strengths. The UV treatment of S6 rubber produced improved wettability, the formation of C—O, C=O and COO- moieties, and ablation (removal of a thin rubber layer from the surface). The extent of these modifications increased with increasing treatment time. The extended UV treatment produced greater surface modifications, as well as the incorporation of nitrogen moieties at the surface. Furthermore, noticeable ablation of S6 rubber surface occurred. Peel strength values increased with increased treatment time of UV treatment of S6 rubber. Also, with increasing treatment time, the adhesive joints showed different loci of failure: adhesional failure for the as-received and 2 min-UV treated S6 rubber/polyurethane adhesive/leather joints changed to mixed failure (cohesive in the treated S6 rubber + adhesional failure) for the 30 min-UV treated S6 rubber/polyurethane adhesive/leather joint.

Improved peel strength in vulcanized sbr rubber roughened before chlorination with trichloroisocyanuric acid

The effectiveness of chlorination as surface treatment to improve the adhesion of synthetic vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) depends on several experimental variables. Solutions of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) in methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) have been used as effective chlorination agents for several rubbers. In this study, the influence of roughening prior to chlorination treatment of a SBR rubber (R2) and the durability of the modifications produced as the time after chlorination increased have been considered. Two concentrations of the chlorination agent (0.5 and 2 wt% TCI/MEK) have been used and the chlorination treatment was applied on the R2 rubber surface using a brush. Characterization of the treated surfaces was carried out using contact angle measurements, ATR-IR spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). T-peel tests of treated R2 rubber/polyurethane adhesive joints have been carried out to determine the adhesion properties. Roughening was an effective treatment to remove paraffin waxes (antiadherent moieties) from the R2 rubber surface. When the chlorination is produced on the roughened R2 rubber, more noticeable chemical and morphological modifications were produced, and higher adhesion was obtained. On the other hand, TCI particles appeared on the roughened and unroughened chlorinated R2 rubber surface, and the size of these TCI particles were decreased by increasing the time after treatment. Furthermore, similar peel strength values were obtained for time after halogenation higher than 2 hours; for shorter time, a decrease in peel strength was found by increasing the time, due to the migration of paraffin wax to the rubber surface.

Characterization of eva-based adhesives containing different amounts of rosin ester or polyterpene tackifier

Different amounts (50-170 php--parts per hundred parts of EVA, 33-63 wt%) of two tackifiers (hydrogenated rosin ester, polyterpene resin) were added to an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer containing 28 wt% vinyl acetate. The EVA and the tackifier were characterized using infrared (IR) spectroscopy, DSC measurements, and stress-controlled plate-plate rheology. The properties and compatibility of the EVA-tackifier mixtures were studied using DSC, DMTA, and stress-controlled plate-plate rheology. Immediate adhesion was measured as a quantification of tack, and the T-peel strength of roughened styrene-butadiene rubber/EVA-tackifier adhesive joints was also obtained. The increase in the amount of tackifier noticeably changed the crystallinity of polyethylene blocks in the EVA, and the temperature at the cross-over between the curves of the storage and loss moduli as a function of the temperature was displaced to a lower value. Whereas the hydrogenated rosin ester was compatible with the amorphous ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer regions of the EVA (Tg value increased) reducing its crystallinity, the polyterpene resin was compatible with the polyethylene blocks of the EVA (T g value was not modified), increasing its crystallinity. Immediate adhesion of the EVA-tackifier mixtures was improved by adding both hydrogenated rosin ester and polyterpene tackifiers. On the other hand, there was an optimum tackifier content at which the maximum T-peel strength value was obtained.

Improved adhesion between polyurethane and SBR rubber treated with trichloroisocyanuric acid solutions containing different concentrations of chlorine

The chlorine concentration in trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) solutions depended on the solvent used to apply the chlorination agent on the rubber surface and on the time after preparation of the solutions. In this study, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and ethyl acetate (EA) have been used as solvents for 2 wt% TCI in the treatment of a difficult-to-bond synthetic vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (R2 rubber). Chlorination produced improved wettability of the R2 rubber and also the removal of paraffin wax from the surface. Furthermore, several C Cl and C O moieties are produced, and some microroughness was created. The concentration of chlorine in the 2 wt% TCI/MEK solution decreased by increasing the time after preparation, and the effects due to chlorination became less marked by increasing the time. However, the concentration of chlorine in the 2 wt% TCI/EA solution was higher and was not noticeably decreased by increasing the time after preparation, and noticeable surface modifications were produced on the R2 rubber treated with the chlorinating solution 6 weeks after preparation. The improved surface modifications of R2 rubber allowed an increase in adhesion to polyurethane adhesive, and the failure was cohesive in the chlorinated layer. A relationship between the chlorine concentration in the TCI solution and the peel strength value in treated R2 rubber/polyurethane adhesive joint was obtained.

Chlorination of vulcanized SBR rubber by immersion or brushing in TCI solutions

The effectiveness of the chlorination treatment of synthetic vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubbers is determined by several experimental variables. In this study, trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) solutions in butanone have been used as chlorinating agents for a difficult-to-bond vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (R2). The influence of the TCI concentration (0.5 and 2 wt% TCI/MEK) was studied and a comparison between the immersion and brushing procedures to apply the chlorinating agent has been carried out. Characterization of the chlorinated surfaces was carried out using contact angle measurements (water, 25°C), ATR-IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). T-peel tests on similarly treated R2 rubber/polyurethane adhesive joints were carried out to quantify adhesion. The chlorination by immersion of R2 rubber with TCI/MEK solutions was less effective than using a brush. The effects of the chlorination were similar using both procedures (creation of roughness, improved wettability, C Cl moieties formation and deposition of TCI particles), but the extent of the modifications was more marked when using a brush. The higher concentration of chlorinating agent allows a higher degree of chlorination. Peel strength values were lower for brush-chlorinated R2 rubber because the migration of wax (which created a weak layer on the rubber surface) from the bulk to the R2 rubber surface was favoured. However, the presence of waxes on the R2 rubber surface still allowed a reasonable level of adhesion due to the predominance of polar moieties.

UV-Ozone Surface Treatment of SBS Rubbers Containing Fillers : Influence of the Filler Nature on the Extent of Surface Modification and Adhesion

SBS rubbers containing different loadings of calcium carbonate and/or silica fillers were surface treated with UV-ozone to improve their adhesion to polyurethane adhesive. The surface modifications produced on the treated filled SBS rubbers have been analyzed by contact angle measurements, ATR-IR spectroscopy, XPS and SEM. The adhesion properties have been evaluated by T-peel strength tests on treated filled SBS rubber/polyurethane adhesive/leather joints. The UV-ozone treatment improved the wettability of all rubber surfaces, and chemical (oxidation) and morphological modifications (roughness, ablation, surface melting) were produced. The increase in the time of UV-ozone treatment to 30 min led to surface cleaning (removal of silicon-based moieties) due to ablation and/or melting of rubber layers and also incorporation of more oxidized moieties was produced. Although chemical modifications were produced earlier in an unfilled rubber for short time of treatment with UV-ozone, they were more noticeable in filled rubbers for extended length of treatment, mainly for S6S and S6T rubbers containing silica filler. The oxidation process seemed to be inhibited for S6C and S6T rubbers (containing calcium carbonate filler). On the other hand, the S6S rubber containing silica filler and the lowest filler loading showed the higher extent of modification as a consequence of the UV-ozone treatment. The UV-ozone increased the joint strength in all joints, more noticeably in the rubbers containing silica filler, in agreement with the greater extents of chemical and morphological modifications produced by the treatment in these rubbers. Finally, the nature and content of fillers determined the extent of surface modification and adhesion of SBS rubber treated with UV-ozone.

Treatment of vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) with mixtures of Trichloroisocyanuric Acid and Fumaric Acid

In this study, mixtures of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) and fumaric acid (FA) solutions were applied to a difficult-to-bond, vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (R2) to analyze the combined effect of both surface treatments. The treated R2 rubber surfaces were characterized using advancing contact angle measurements, ATR-IR and XPS spectroscopy, and SEM. T-peel tests of treated R2 rubber/ polyurethane adhesive/leather joints have been obtained in order to quantify the adhesion properties. The wettability of R2 rubber was improved by treatment with 3 wt% TCI/EA (ethyl acetate) or 0.5 wt% FA/EtOH, and lower contact angles were obtained by treatment with both 3 wt% TCI/EA and 0.5 wt% FA/EtOH. The improved wettability was ascribed to the creation of carbon-chlorine moieties, the removal of zinc stearate and paraffin wax, and the creation of surface roughness on the R2 rubber surface. Treatment of R2 rubber with 3 wt% TCI/EA before or after treatment with 0.5 wt% FA/EtOH, or with a solution containing 3 wt% TCI/EA + 0.5 wt% FA/EtOH mixture produced a noticeable increase in peel strength. Always, the effects of the treatment of R2 rubber with 3 wt% TCI solution were dominant over those produced by treatment with 0.5 wt% FA solution in ethanol (FA/EtOH). On the other hand, the treatment of R2 rubber with 3 wt% TCI/EA + 0.5 wt% FA/EtOH mixture was more effective than the treatment with 0.5 wt% TCI/EA+ 2 wt% FA/EtOH because the lower amount of chlorinating agent in this mixture.

Effects of overhalogenation of a synthetic vulcanized styrene–butadiene rubber sole on its adhesion behavior

The effects of halogenating the same synthetic vulcanized styrene–butadiene rubber (R2) (used as a sole material in the shoe industry) twice (double halogenation) using solutions of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI) in MEK were studied. The R2 rubber was treated with 0.5 and 2 wt% TCI/MEK solutions and after 1 h re-treated with additional 0.5 (0.5 + 0.5 wt% TCI/MEK) and 2 wt% TCI/MEK (2 + 2 wt% TCI/MEK) solutions. The results obtained were compared with those obtained by treating the R2 rubber once with 1 and 4 wt% TCI/MEK solutions. The surface modifications produced by the double halogenation of the R2 rubber were analyzed using advancing and receding contact angles (variations in wettability), XPS and ATR-IR spectroscopy (characterization of chemical modifications) and SEM (morphological modifications). T-peel tests on doubly halogenated R2 rubber/polyurethane adhesive joints were carried out to quantify the adhesion properties of the treated R2 rubber. The degree of chlorination was higher with increasing amount of chlorinating agent. Furthermore, the most efficient removal of hydrocarbon substances from the R2 rubber surface was obtained by double halogenation and by increasing the TCI concentration. Similar trends in surface chemistry of the R2 rubber were obtained using 0.5–2 wt% TCI/MEK, with or without double halogenation. On the other hand, by comparing the effects of treatments with 0.5 + 0.5 wt% TCI/MEK and 1 wt% TCI/MEK or with 2 + 2 wt% TCI/MEK and 4 wt% TCI/MEK, less effective removal of zinc stearate and less degree of chlorination were obtained by double halogenation although similar outermost surface modifications were produced. The second application of the TCI/MEK solution on the already halogenated R2 rubber dissolved the unreacted TCI and/or the isocyanuric acid crystals on its surface. The mechanical properties of the treated R2 rubber decreased because it became stiffer. Higher and relatively similar peel strength values were obtained in all adhesive joints prepared using treated R2 rubber. A cohesive failure in the rubber close to the chlorinated layer was always obtained.