A facile strategy for high mechanical performance and recyclable EPDM rubber enabled by exchangeable ion crosslinking. (15th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gong, Chang; Cao, Jiakai; Guo, Minghui; Cai, Shuangyu; Xu, Peikuan; Lv, Jin; Li, Chengjie
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 175(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07-15
• Subjects: EPDM rubber -- Exchangeable ion crosslinking -- Multiple networks -- Dynamic recyclable features -- Mechanical performance; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111339
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Exchangeable Zn 2+ -carboxyl crosslinks into commercial EPDM system was developed. The dynamic network was reversibly ruptured/reconstructed via rearranging topology. EPDM-g-MAZn was endowed with good recycling and reprocessing ability. The promising mechanics was regulated by addition of ZDMA due to multiple networks. Abstract: Endowing rubber with excellent recycling ability is of great significance for energy conservation. It is still a huge challenge to obtain high-performance recyclable commercial rubber to satisfy practical applications. Herein, a facile strategy of incorporating exchangeable Zn 2+ -carboxyl crosslinks into commercial EPDM system was developed through reaction of zinc acetate and EPDM grafted maleic anhydride (EPDM-g-MAH) to obtain EPDM-g-MAZn. The constructed exchangeable crosslinking networks as sacrificial unit significantly enhanced mechanical properties of EPDM, much higher than EPDM cured by covalent bonds (tensile strength: 2.00 MPa and fracture toughness: 6.75 MJ/m 3 ). The dynamic crosslinking was reversibly broken and reformed by hot pressing, endowing EPDM-g-MAZn with good recycling ability. The promising mechanical properties of EPDM-g-MAZn can be tailored by incorporation of carbon black (CB) or zinc dimethacrylate (ZDMA), and recycled EPDM-g-MAZn/CB exhibited good mechanical properties to meet industrial applications. Additionally, multiple crosslinking networks were constructed for EPDM-g-MAZn/ZDMA with fine dispersion of ZDMA due to Zn 2+ -carboxyl interactions. Such effective strategy exhibits a promising perspective in industrial applications of high-performance recyclable rubber field.