Study on Microstructure and Dynamic Performance of Novel Isoprene Rubber Synthesized with Homogeneous Rare-Earth Catalyst System

Abstract

The homogeneous rare-earth catalytic system was used to initiate the polymerization of isoprene, and a novel IR was synthesized with high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. According to the self-developed rare-earth IR properties, a study on IR and IR/NR blend was made. Microstructure and molecular characteristics of JiHua rare-earth IR were identified by IR spectra, 13C NMR and GPC, and the effect of JiHua rare-earth IR on the vulcanization characteristics and dynamic properties in IR/NR blend was investigated and compared with IR (SKI-3) synthesized with titanium catalyst system and rare-earth isoprene rubber (SKI-5) made in Russia. The results showed that JiHua rare-earth IR to be developed independently was a novel synthetic rubber with excellent comprehensive performance, and it can be used independently and partly substitute natural rubber to make tire. In the IR/NR blend, Not only vulcanization characteristics and the safety in operation for NR was greatly improved, But also dynamic properties of vulcanizates such as dynamic cutting resistance, abrasion resistance, wet-skid resistance and aging resistance were improved to different degrees. These properties reach or surpass the level of the foreign similar products like Russia SKI-3 and Russia SKI-5.