Research projects

Chemical Modification

The C=C bonds in the polymer structure is susceptible to thermal and oxidative degradation when exposed to harsh operating systems, resulting in a decline of the structural properties of the polymers. The chemical modification of diene-polymers has been an interesting method to improve or produce novel polymeric materials, which are inaccessible or difficult to prepare by conventional polymerization processes. Chemical modifications such as crosslinking, grafting, degradation, oxidation, isomerization, and cyclization including the modification of diene polymers by metal-catalyzed reactions such as hydrogenation, hydroformylation, hydrosilylation, hydrocyanation and hydroxymethylation has been studied. In our research unit, the chemical modification reactions are hydrogenation and graft copolymerization of natural rubber. We are currently optimizing the catalysts and studying the kinetics and mechanisms of natural rubber hydrogenation.

Reinforcement

Rubbers produced by crosslinking amorphous, gum elastomers are soft and weak. The use of filler, especially carbon black and silica, together with accelerated sulfur vulcanization, has remained the fundamental technique for achieving the incredible range of mechanical properties required for a great variety of modern rubber products. Increased reinforcement of the rubber material has been defined as increased stiffness, modulus, rapture energy, tear strength, tensile strength, cracking resistance, fatigue resistance, and abrasion resistance. Thus, many of the usual applications of rubbers could not be envisaged without the use of filler. The main intention of our research unit is to look for the new reinforcing filler and develop the vulcanizing system in order to clarify the relationship between filler and the reinforcement of elastomers.

Research Goals

            To develop the technique to improve physical and chemical properties of natural rubber and synthetic rubbers to support the industrial applications.

On-going works

• Hydrogenation of natural rubber using palladium catalyst
• Hydrogenation of natural rubber latex by diimide reduction
• Properties of hydrogenated natural rubber and blends
• Properties of natural rubber – g – acrylonitriles and blends
• Reinforcement of natural rubber by fly ash
• Sol-gel reaction in polymer solution under the presence of natural rubber
• Reinforcement of natural rubber by in situ metal oxides
• Chemical reclaiming of rubber
• Zeolitic oxide-Rubber composite materials

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