The Influence of Residue Emulsifier Amounts on Properties of Nitrile Rubbers and Elastomeric Materials Based on Them

Abstract

The paper considers the properties of a number of commercially available Russian nitrilebutadiene rubbers (NBR) containing approximately the equal acrylonitrile amount (from 26 to 33%) in the macromolecule, but differing in the method of synthesis and isolation. The assessment ofthe influence of residual emulsifier content and also such surfactants as rosin and stearic acid introduced as technological additives on some NBR properties was performed. The technological properties of model compounds based on these NBR, in particular, Mooney viscosity, minimal and maximal torques during curing, and scorching time were determined. It was shown that both residual emulsifier amounts and introduced surfactants decrease the viscosity of the compounds and increase the curing time. It was noted that rosin acts in a different manner in comparison with stearic acid. In particular, stearic acid acting as an interstructural plasticizer affects viscosity decrease in a greater degree. The mechanical performance of vulcanizatesbased on rubber compounds considered in the paper was also determined. It was shown that the surfactants effect on the mechanical properties is negligible and is within the measurement accuracy. Nevertheless, the NBRs obtained with various emulsifiers differ essentially and can’t be replaceable without revising both the rubber compounds recipes and processing parameters. The vulcanizates resistance to some organic solvents and water was also studied. It was shown that the acrylonitrile content in the rubber macromolecule is the key factor affecting the resistance to non-polar solvents. At the same time it was found that the vulcanizates containing residual emulsifier amounts tend to the swelling index increase. In general, the surfactants effect on the swelling index is ambiguous, and it requires deeper research.