Design of next-generation cross-linking structure for elastomers toward green process and a real recycling loop

Zhang, Ganggang; Feng, Haoran; Liang, Kuan; Zhao, Weiping; Li, Xiaolin; Zhou, Xinxin; Guo, Baochun; Zhang, Liqun

doi:10.1016/j.scib.2020.03.008

Cited by 65 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…This defect has led to a dramatic decline in the sustainability, safety, and service life of these materials, which also brings a huge burden to the environment. Recently, incorporating dynamic covalent bonds into the cross-linked polymer networks has challenged this dogma by allowing the network to reshuffle the topology under external stimuli. − This provides new opportunities for designing cross-linked materials that can be reprocessed or recycled.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical Strong and Recyclable Rubber Nanocomposites with Sustainable Cellulose Nanocrystals and Interfacial Exchangeable Bonds

Cao

Gong

et al. 2021

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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Rubber is a strategically important polymeric material because of its high extensibility and resilience. However, traditional cross-linked rubber is difficult to be reprocessed or recycled due to the permanent covalent cross-linking, which puts a huge burden on the environment. Herein, we report a covalently cross-linked yet reprocessable carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber (CSBR) nanocomposite which is reinforced and cross-linked by epoxy-modified tunicate cellulose nanocrystals (TCNCs). The epoxy modification of TCNCs improves the dispersibility and the interfacial interactions with the matrix, thus improving the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. In addition, exchangeable ester bonds are formed at the rubber–filler interface, and the network topology can be rearranged via the transesterification reactions. Therefore, the materials can be reprocessed and recycled under the evaluated temperatures. In particular, by introducing metal coordination bonds to construct a dual dynamic network in the system, the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites can be further improved without compromising the recycling and reprocessing performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical Strong and Recyclable Rubber Nanocomposites with Sustainable Cellulose Nanocrystals and Interfacial Exchangeable Bonds

Cao

Gong

et al. 2021

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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“…18 The introduction of vitrimer conception into elastomeric networks has been implemented to endow covalently crosslinking elastomers with recyclability. [19][20][21][22][23][24] For instance, Tang et al reported a covalently crosslinking yet recyclable elastomer vitrimer. With the aid of 1,2-dimethylimidazole (DMI) and Zn(Ac) 2 as catalysts, this elastomer vitrimer, which comprised exchangeable b-hydroxyl ester crosslinks between commercial epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and carbon nanodots, was able to reshuffle its network topology structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A catalyst-free and recycle-reinforcing elastomer vitrimer with exchangeable links

et al. 2020

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“…Generally, unvulcanized NR has few practical applications because of its low tensile strength. To prepare high-performance elastomers, sulfur vulcanization is widely used in the NR industry. , Nevertheless, the sulfur vulcanization cross-linking system will generate toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) , and unrecyclable rubber products, , resulting in adverse effects on human health and the ecological environment. To fabricate high-performance elastomers without sulfur vulcanization, researchers have committed to the epoxidation of NR and then initiate cross-linking based on the reaction between epoxy groups. − However, this approach is extremely complex and inevitably introduces impurities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural Rubber Latex Reinforced by Graphene Oxide/Zwitterionic Chitin Nanocrystal Hybrids for High-Performance Elastomers without Sulfur Vulcanization

Liu

Huang

Hou

et al. 2021

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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Natural rubber (NR) demonstrates excellent mechanical strength and tensile elasticity after vulcanization. However, the sulfur curing system will generate many problems, including the usage of toxic accelerators, blooming, and unrecyclable products. Therefore, it is a big challenge to prepare high-performance elastomers without sulfur vulcanization in the natural rubber (NR) industry. Here, a small amount of graphene oxide (GO)/zwitterionic chitin nanocrystals (NC) hybrids (GC) are first introduced in NR latex to reinforce unvulcanized NR. The NR/GC nanocomposite exhibits a high tensile strength of 19.2 MPa and a large breaking elongation of 825.9%, rivaling that of sulfur-vulcanized rubber. NC with amino and carboxyl groups can act as a macromolecular bridge and enhance the interfacial interaction between GO sheets and NR particles due to its strong attraction to both of them. Moreover, the dispersion of GO in NR is dramatically improved after adding NC due to the hybrid-synergetic effect. Thus, the formed uniform hybrid nanofiller networks strongly absorbed on NR macromolecules can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. As a concept of proof, the medical gloves prepared by NR/GC latex show better performances than those of the vulcanizates, including good recycle ability, higher water vapor permeability, and good biocompatibility.

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Design of next-generation cross-linking structure for elastomers toward green process and a real recycling loop

Cited by 65 publications

References 49 publications

Mechanical Strong and Recyclable Rubber Nanocomposites with Sustainable Cellulose Nanocrystals and Interfacial Exchangeable Bonds

Mechanical Strong and Recyclable Rubber Nanocomposites with Sustainable Cellulose Nanocrystals and Interfacial Exchangeable Bonds

A catalyst-free and recycle-reinforcing elastomer vitrimer with exchangeable links

Natural Rubber Latex Reinforced by Graphene Oxide/Zwitterionic Chitin Nanocrystal Hybrids for High-Performance Elastomers without Sulfur Vulcanization

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