Green Routes toward Cross-Linkable and Robust Elastomers Derived from Biobased Fumaric Acid

Abstract

In the rubber industry, the substitution of traditional engineering rubbers derived from fossil resources with novel biobased elastomers is considered for sustainable development, which largely relies on a straightforward and environmentally friendly synthesis procedure and the availability of material properties. In the research, semi-biobased elastomers, poly(dibutyl fumarate-co-butadiene)s (PDBFBs), were prepared by redox emulsion polymerization of dibutyl fumarate obtained from fumaric acid esterified with n-butanol and partially petroleumderived butadiene. The microscopic structures of PDBFBs were verified by FTIR, NMR, and GPC analyses. The T g values of PDBFBs were in the range of −73 and −58 °C. Additionally, the reactivity ratios of two comonomers in PDBFBs were evaluated by two methods: the Fineman−Ross and Kelen−Tudos methods. The macroscopic properties of semi-biobased elastomers, such as thermal and mechanical performances, were meticulously regulated via molecular design. To achieve the desired properties, silica was incorporated into the PDBFBs to prepare strong nanocomposites. These nanocomposites displayed adequate tensile strength (14.3−31.6 MPa), adequate elongation at break (338−457%), low rolling resistance, and excellent thermoresistant oxygen aging performance. These results showed that PDBFB nanocomposites possessed quite good properties and had the potential for practical applications. This work provides a facile, efficient, solvent-less green synthesis route to design new-generation promising sustainable engineering elastomers for the rubber industry.

Recent progress of elastomer–silica nanocomposites toward green tires: simulation and experiment

“…Besides functionalizing the traditional rubber chains, synthesizing novel rubber chains suitable for silica is another promising choice. 136,137 Considering petroleum scarcity, the design and preparation of bio-based elastomers has received enormous attention in the rubber industry. The basic building blocks of bio-based elastomers are sustainable.…”

High-Performance Biobased Elastomers with Both High Strength and High Toughness

“…Hitherto, high-performance poly­(oxalamide) elastomers, characterized by their exceptional strength and toughness, have rarely been reported because strong HB interaction may result in excessive supramolecular aggregation . Besides, other sustainable compounds, such as methyl 10-undecenoate, ,− 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, , itaconic acid, , 1,3-propanediol, fumaric Acid, Priamine 1075 and Pripol 1009, thermoplastic starch, , cellulose, lignin etc., have also been used in the design and preparation of TPEs. Although considerable progress has been made in the manufacture of sustainable TPEs, simultaneously achieving mechanical robustness and toughness in biobased TPEs continues to pose a significant challenge.…”

Development of Sustainable Tire Tread Using Novel Biobased Itaconate Elastomers

“…In order to reduce the consumption of fossil resources, it is very necessary to find alternative biobased monomers for preparing synthetic elastomers. Owing to the wide variety of biobased chemicals, industrial production and scientific research mainly focus on some high value-added biobased chemicals, including itaconic acid, − fumaric acid, − succinic acid, , 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid, , lactic acid, , and levulinic acid. , Recently, terpenes have become important monomers for biobased polymer synthesis, which mainly exist in plants, insects, and even marine organisms. , Terpenes are divided into monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, disesquiterpenes, and polyterpenes according to the number of isoprene units in the molecular formula . At present, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are used as typical representatives in the preparation of biobased polymers. − Among them, monoterpenes mainly include myrcene, pinene, ocimene, and limonene.…”