Pairote Klinpituksa

Synthesis of acrylated styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer

Abstract Vulcanization of polymer by ultraviolet irradiation has been playing an important role in the industrial sector especially for coating, ink and printing applications. Polymers used in this area are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Their final products have properties required for particular specifications. One of the methods to synthesize ultraviolet-sensitive polymers is the grafting of ultraviolet-sensitive units onto other polymer backbones. In this work, styreneisoprene- styrene copolymer (SIS) was selected as a polymer backbone whilst acrylic acid served as an ultraviolet sensitiser. The grafting reaction was carried out in a solution state of toluene through the ring-opening addition reaction of epoxidized SIS molecules. The results indicated that acrylic acid can be successfully grafted onto a previously epoxidized SIS backbone at a reaction temperature of 100°C. Furthermore, the acrylation yield increased with the increase of reaction time.

Polymeric Antioxidant Based on Natural Rubber Grafted with N-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)maleimide

A novel rubber bound antioxidant NR-g-HPM was prepared by melt grafting HPM (N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)maleimide) onto natural rubber in a brabender plasticorder. HPM was synthesized from p-aminophenol and maleic anhydride. The yield was found to be over 80%. The grafting products were observed with FTIR spectroscopy and TGA. The ageing resistance of natural rubber vulcanizates using NR-g-HPM was studied. It was found that an optimal amount of NR-g-HPM (6 phr) gave about 25% better tensile strength and elongation at break as compared with conventional BHT addition, for filled natural rubber after 48 h of accelerated aging.

Waterborne Polyurethane: Effect of Functional Groups in Aromatic Isocyanate and the Chain Length of Hydroxyl Terminated Natural Rubber

Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) has its main applications in coatings and adhesives. Compared with the competing PU products from solvent-based processes, it has a more environmentally friendly manufacturing process. Its economic competitiveness could also be improved by the use of aromatic isocyanates that are widely available and cheaper than the currently used aliphatic isocyanates. We report on the synthesis and properties of WPU, based on natural rubber (NR) whose molecular structure has been altered, in combination with an aromatic isocyanate. The NR modification is by hydroxyl termination, with experiments using two chain lengths (HT600 and HT1000, named after molecular weight). The aromatic isocyanates used are 4,4’-Methylene bis (phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and polymethylene polyphenyl polyisocyanate (p-MDI). The synthesized chemical structure is characterized using ATR-FTIR, while the key material properties reported here are the pH value, mean particle size and size distribution, and glass transition temperature. The WPU achieved suitable material properties, with small particles sizes and good dispersion, for applications in coatings.

Grafting of Itaconic Anhydride onto Natural Rubber as Compatibilizer for Rubber Blend, Experimental Optimization of Grafting Extent

Graft copolymers of natural rubber with itaconic anhydride (IA) were prepared in toluene using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, monomer concentration and initiator concentration on natural rubber grafting were investigated. Graft copolymers (NR-g-IA) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The grafting content of IA onto NR was estimated by means of FTIR using the absorbance peak ratio for 1783 cm-1 and 835 cm-1, corresponding to the symmetric C=O stretching and the =C-H out of plane bending in natural rubber, respectively. Titration was also used to determine the amount of IA grafted onto natural rubber. The optimal grafting conditions for preparation of NR-g-IA were found at 10 phr IA, 2.5 phr BPO, 85°C temperature, and 2.5 hr reaction time.

Influences of neutralization of superabsorbent hydrogel from hydroxyethyl cellulose on water swelling capacities

In this research, superabsorbent hydrogels were synthesized by graft copolymerization of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and polyacrylamide (PAM) under the initiation of potassium persulfate (KPS). The polymer networks were constructed using N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA), and the reaction was performed in an aqueous solution. The extent of grafting products was evaluated form grafting efficiency (%GE) and percentage of add-ons at HEC/AM ratios of 1: 10. The water swelling capacities, in terms of swelling capacity and weight loss, of resultant superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) after solvent extraction were determined for swelling behaviors. The result showed that the SAP had poor water absorption of approximately up to 23 g/g. To enhance swelling capacity of SAPs, an alkaline hydrolysis was done by using two types of alkaline bases, i.e., 2 M NaOH and 2 M KOH solution. The obtained treatment SAPs were neutralized by washing with distilled water and 0.5 M HCl until the liquors pH was nearly 7. They were found...

Color and Antioxidant Changes in Various Natural Rubber Processes

Fresh field natural rubber was coagulated by acetic acid, soaked in water at room temperature (WRT) or 70°C (W70) for 1 hr, and then dried in an oven at 40°C. Non-soaked natural rubber samples (NoW) served as a control. Two grades of natural rubber, namely air-dry sheet (ADS) and ribbed smoked sheet No.3 (RSS3) derived from the same latex, were also investigated. All dry rubber samples were characterized with Lovibond colorimeter according to ASTM D3157, as well as with a HunterLab spectrophotometer. Furthermore, all the dry rubber samples were dissolved in a chloroform:methanol mixture (4:1 v:v). The rubber was then precipitated out of the solution with methanol, and the remaining solution was quantitatively analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC). The plasticity retention index (PRI) was determined for all the dried rubber samples according to ASTM D3194. It was found that WRT, W70 and ADS were similar in lightness L*, while RSS3 had the lowest L*. W70 had the lowest redness a*, which increased in the order WRT, NoW, RSS3 and ADS. W70 also had the lowest yellowness b*, which increased in the order RSS3, NoW and WRT and ADS. Moreover, TPC was the lowest for the W70 sample, increasing in the order ADS, WRT, NoW and RSS3. The PRI was highest for W70, and decreased in the order WRT, RSS3, NoW and ADS. All of the PRI values observed were comparatively high relative to blocked standard Thai rubber 20 (STR20).