Molecular Structure and Properties of Polybutadiene Rubbers

Abstract

Abstract A discussion of the development, present day applications, and the advantages of polybutadienes are presented. The variations of an over-all concept in products obtained through different preparations and having various molecular structures as well as differing service and technological properties were made the starting point for the present investigations. Section 2 provides a review of the basic characteristics of the most important processes for preparing polybutadiene and the associated structural or compositional characteristics. Fourteen typical polybutadienes encompassing the entire range of polybutadienes are compared to cold rubber and natural rubber with respect to their most importance analytical and polymer values corresponding to their arrangement into preparation groups. The correlations between the technological properties of the raw rubbers, of the compounds, including the mixing behavior, and the vulcanizates on the one hand and the molecular structure composition of the rubbers upon which they are based, on the other, are discussed using detailed synopses in Sections 3 and 4. In doing this, it was important to see the principal features of the different polybutadienes compared to one another, effects of the structural characteristics and of additives on the properties of the raw rubbers, compounds, and vulcanizates, as well as the differences encountered as compared to polymers which are considered most important for use in blends (cold SBR and natural rubber). Finally, in Section 5, in summary form, the effects were treated of the individually appearing structural and compositional factors in the initial polymers on the service and technological properties of the raw rubbers, compounds, and vulcanizates.