• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2012

A suspension copolymerization of styrene and butyl methacrylate (BMA) in the aqueous phase was conducted at a selected temperature between 65 and $95^{\circ}C$. Hydrophobic silica was selected as a stabilizer and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. Optimum dispersion of silica in water was obtained at pH 10 while polymerization reaction was run at pH 7. TGA and EDS measurements revealed that 90% of silica functioned as a stabilizer and 10% were incorporated into polymeric particles. Average particle diameter decreased with increasing amounts of stabilizer. Molecular weights displayed an increase when the stabilizer concentration reached 1.67 wt%. An increase in the initiator concentration and/or reaction temperature raised the reaction rate but decreased molecular weights. Particle diameter was nearly independent of the initiator concentration and reaction temperature. An increase in the BMA proportion decreased the glass transition temperature and increased the particle diameter with irregularity in shape. Incorporation of carbon black into the particles composed of styrene and BMA prolonged the reaction time before reaching completion. We have confirmed that a suspension copolymerization of styrene and BMA with hydrophobic silica as a stabilizer can produce spherical composite particles with $1-30{\mu}m$ in diameter containing carbon black.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2014

Melt grafting of itaconic acid (IA) onto an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) with various organic peroxide initiators was performed. Finding the optimum mixing conditions and concentration of ingredients is critical for effective grafting and optimum properties of grafted materials. This study focused on the effects of mixing conditions (temperature and time), initiator type/concentration and monomer concentration on the grafting degree and efficiency, melt flow index, and gel content of EPDM-g-IA. The initiator, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butyl peroxy)-hexane (T-101), appeared to meet for the best grafting degree (1.91%). The grafting degree increased markedly by increasing the amounts of monomer IA and initiator T-101. The grafting degree also increased by increasing mixing temperature and time. The optimum monomer and initiator concentrations and reaction temperature and time were found to be about 5wt%/0.05wt% and $160^{\circ}C$/15min, respectively. It was found that the physical properties of EPDM-g-IA were higher than those of the pristine EPDM.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2009

In this study, investigation on the polymerization characteristics of isoprene through nitroxide mediated controlled/"living" radical polymerization techniques was attempted. In the presence of acetol, linear increase of isoprene conversion with time and low polydispersities of the resulting polymers ($M_w/M_n$ < 1.5) were observed, which suggest successful controlled/"living" radical polymerization of isoprene. The microstructure of the resulting polyisoprene was composed of $\sim$ 22% of 3, 4, $\sim$30% of 1, 4-cis and $\sim$ 48% of 1, 4-trans. The optimum polymerization temperature was 145 $^{circ}C$, below which no significant polymerization behavior was observed. Non-cyclic nitroxide, such as di-tert-butyl nitroxide (DTBN) could not mediate the polymerization, whereas cyclic nitroxides (2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-1-peperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO) and 4-oxo-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-1-peperidine 1-oxyl (oxoTEMPO)) were successfully employed for the polymerization. However, isoprene dimerization reaction through Diels-Alder process was also observed at the given polymerization condition, which afforded a significant amount of limonene. Isoprene thermal autoinitiation was also possible, which was, however, considered to be not significant under the given polymerization condition.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.336-342
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• 2009

We measured shear viscosity of polystyrene (PS) and poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) particles, with a capillary rheometer, prepared by suspension polymerization with 1.0 wt% hydrophobic silica as a stabilizer by varying the initiator concentration at $75^{\circ}C$. PS particles with weight average molecular weight of 66,500 g/mol displayed a Newtonian behaior at low shear rates at $190^{\circ}C$. With increasing molecular weight, PS particles showed shear thinning over the entire range of shear rates. For PBMA particles, steady shear measurement was carried out at $170^{\circ}C$. PBMA particles with weight average molecular weight of 156,700 g/mol showed a Newtonian behaior only at low shear rates. PBMA particles also showed shear thinning with an increase in molecular weight and its pattern similar to that of PS. When carbon black was incorporated into PS and PBMA polymers, steady shear measurement was conducted at $170^{\circ}C$. An increase in carbon black concentration in PS and PBMA composite particles exhibited a progressive increase in shear viscosity. The increase in shear viscosity, however, was less pronounced compared to an increase as a function of molecular weight. Preparing PS composites containing carbon black by internal mixing resulted in an increase in shear viscosity. Its increase, however, was found to be less than that shown in PS composite particles. We speculate that this is caused by an enhanced dispersion of carbon black particles with an internal mixer. Yield behavior was not observed in any of the samples we selected in this experiment.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2013

Melt grafting of citraconic acid (CCA) onto an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) with various peroxide initiators was performed using a Haake Rheocorder. Finding the optimum running condition and concentration is critical for effective grafting and performance of grafted material. Therefore, this study focused on the effects of mixing (reaction) condition and monomer/initiator dosages on the grafting degree, grafting efficiency and crosslinking degree (gel content), melt flow index and mechanical properties of CCA-g-EPDM. As the grafting degree/crosslinking degrees increased, the tensile strength increased significantly, but elongation at break and melt flow index decreased. The initiator 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butyl peroxy)-hexane (T-101) appeared to meet for the best grafting(2.31%). The grafting degree increased markedly with increasing monomer CCA/initiator T-101 contents. The grafting degree also increased with increasing mixing temperature/time, and then leveled off or decreased/increased a little. The optimum monomer/initiator dosages and reaction temperature/time were found to be about 5/0.05 wt% and $180^{\circ}C$/15min, respectively.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.195-204
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• 2015

Several researches are focused on improving the value of fine chemicals based on biomass resources due to environmental and other concerns associated with the use of petroleum-based products. Therefore, the synthesis and application of estolides derived from plant-based waste oil materials and their application as lubricants and as processing oil for butyl rubber products have been studied. Four kinds of estolide were prepared with conversions of 71~92% over 24h using various vegetable oils, as determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. FT-IR spectroscopy determines the esterification of estolides using 2-ethylhexyl alcohol. The estolides have iodine values of 35~90, α-ester/α-acid ratios of 0.45~0.55, and total acid number of 114~134 mg KOH g^–1. Four ball wear tests show that the wear scar diameters (WSDs) of estolides as base oil significantly decreased to 0.328~0.494 mm, compared to WSDs of 0.735 and 0.810 mm of WSD for 150N and Yubase 6, respectively, as general base oil. Thus, the estolides have better wear resistance and satisfying design objectives for the engineering of a variety of lubricant base oils.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 2009

The pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) were synthesized by soap-free emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers such as butyl acrylate, 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, and acrylic acid in the presence of starch as a protective colloid and copolymer. The peel strength and holding power of PSA were increased with starch contents due to the enhancement of gel content, But the initial tackiness of PSA was decreased with starch contents. The contact angle analysis of PSA indicated that the wettability was increased with starch contents owing to the increase of polarity by hydroxy group in starch. In the pH measurement of emulsion with time for biodegradability, the starch in the PSA accelerated the lowering of pH due to the formation of organic acids followed by decomposition of starch.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.360-365
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• 1999

In this study, the blends of acrylic quaternary polymer (PEBEV) which was co- polymerized from 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA), n-butyl acrylate (BA) and ethyl acrylate (EA), vinyl acetate (VAc), and poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl propionate) (PVCVP) were prepared by solution blending. Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) properties of PEBEV/PVCVP blends were compared with those of PEBEV/poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate) (PVCVAc) blends. Compatibility of PEBEV/PVCVP was better than that of PEBEV/PVCVAc. Tackiness of both blend systems were similar, but holding power began to decrease at 15wt% or higher PVCVAc contents in PEBEV/PVCVAc blends. On the other hands, holding power of PEBEV/PVCVP increased as the contents of PVCVP increased. Failure modes of the blends were adhesive failure except 5wt% of PVCVP was blended.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2011

The various types of PBA/PMMA composite latexes were prepared by $2.1\;{\mu}m$ PBA seeded batch and seeded semi-continuous dispersion polymerization. The morphology of the PBA/PMMA composite latexes by seeded batch process was found to be closely dependant on the weight ratios of methanol/water in polymerization medium and of PBA seed/MMA at the second stage. In general, egg, snowman, confetti, peanut-like nonspherical composite latex particles were formed with increasing amount of water and MMA as a result of the occurrence of the phase separation between PBA seed and PMMA. The morphology of the PBA/PMMA composite latexes by seeded semi-continuous process was controlled by the addition time of MMA, especially, spherical shaped core(PBA)/shell(PMMA) composite latex particles were prepared under the monomer-starved condition at the second stage.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2021

Carbon-based nanofillers, including nanodiamond (ND) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), have been employed in epoxy matrixes for improving the toughness, using the tow prepreg method, of epoxy compounds for high pressure tanks. The reinforcing performance was compared with those of commercially available toughening fillers, including carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (CTBN) and block copolymers, such as poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(butyl acrylate)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (BA-b-MMA). CTNB improved the mechanical performance at a relatively high filler loading of ~5 phr. Nanosized BA-b-MMA showed improved performance at a lower filler loading of ~2 phr. However, the mechanical properties deteriorated at a higher loading of ~5 phr because of the formation of larger aggregates. ND showed no significant improvement in mechanical properties because of aggregate formation. In contrast, surface-treated ND with epoxidized hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene considerably improved the mechanical properties, notably the impact strength, because of more uniform dispersion of particles in the epoxy matrix. CNTs noticeably improved the flexural strength and impact strength at a filler loading of 0.5 phr. However, the improvements were lost with further addition of fillers because of CNT aggregation.