Effect of Crosslink Type on the Ultrasound Devulcanization of SBR Vulcanizates

Sulfur-cured non-reinforced SBR with different amounts of poly-, di- and monosulfidic crosslinks is devulcanized by high power ultrasound irradiation in a continuous process under various processing conditions. Total crosslink density, the proportion of polysulfidic crosslinks, gel fraction, and glass transition temperature are measured. The effect of the initial fraction of polysulfidic bonds on the devulcanization process is discussed.

Superior Mechanical Properties of Reclaimed SBR with Bimodal Network

The correlation between the mechanical properties of revulcanized SBR, total and polysulfidic crosslink density, gel fraction of original vulcanizate, ultrasonically devulcanized, and revulcanized rubber is described. Under some processing conditions the tensile strength of revulcanized SBR is found to be much higher than that of the original vulcanizate with elongation at break being practically intact. A model explaining the increase in mechanical properties of revulcanized rubber is proposed.

Ultrasound Devulcanization of SBR: Molecular Mobility of Gel and Sol

In an effort to support the recycling of rubbery polymers and composites, 1H NMR relaxation and pulsedgradient spin echo diffusion measurements have been performed on virgin and unfilled vulcanized strene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and networks after various extents of devulcanization using an ultrasound technique. The NMR methods recognize unentangled light molecules (e.g. sol), but do not distinguish between unattached entangled large molecules and chemical network segments. Devulcanization generates additional sol with a wide mass distribution, thus increasing both sol and gel mobility, but decreasing sol mean diffusivity. The latter effect is accounted for by the increasing mean sol molecular mass but also by the increasing glass transition temperature, which is related to main-chain stiffening seen in our earlier 13C NMR experiments. In addition to improving the molecular-level understanding of devulcanization, this study provides guidance for the optimization of the devulcanization parameters.

Vulcanization of Ultrasonically Devulcanized SBR Elastomers

Sulfur cured SBR elastomers, devulcanized by high power ultrasonic irradiation, were revulcanized by using the same curing conditions as for virgin SBR. Crosslink density and gel fraction of virgin, devulcanized, and revulcanized elastomers were measured. Curing behavior of some model compounds based on virgin and devulcanized SBR was investigated. Strongly pronounced differences between the curing behavior of virgin and devulcanized elastomers were observed. Torque and DSC studies indicate that two different processes during the crosslinking of devulcanized rubber take place. The existence of these two processes is explained by crosslinking of sulfidized polymer chains followed by crosslinking due to the presence of sulfur and accelerator. Chemical differences between virgin and devulcanized elastomers, explaining the observed phenomena, are discussed.

Ultrasound Devulcanization of Sulfur Vulcanized SBR: Crosslink Density and Molecular Mobility

Sulfur-cured SBR vulcanizates are devulcanized by high power ultrasonic irradiation in a continuous process under various processing conditions. Crosslink density and gel fraction of devulcanized rubber are measured. The unique dependence of crosslink density on gel fraction of devulcanized samples obtained at various processing conditions is established. DSC studies indicate a significant increase in the glass transition temperature of the devulcanized rubber having crosslink density lower than that of the original vulcanizates. Solid state NMR studies confirm that these changes in Tg are due to a decrease of molecular mobility as measured by a decrease in spin-spin relaxation time. Ultrasonic devulcanization is accompanied by a significant increase in xcis-trans isomerization. Chemical changes explaining the observed phenomena are discussed.

Photoaffinity labeling of T4 bacteriophage 32 protein

With a view toward the determination of nucleic acid binding domains and sites on nucleic acid helix-destabilizing (single strand-specific) proteins (HDPs), we have studied the interactions of the copolymer polynucleotide photoaffinity label, poly(adenylic, 8-azidoadenylic acid), (poly(A,8-N3A] with the T4 bacteriophage HDP, 32 protein. Poly(A,8-N3A) quenched the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of 32 protein in a manner similar to that observed with other polynucleotides, and the effect could be reversed by addition of sufficient NaCl. The binding affinity and site size of this noncovalent interaction of poly(A,8-N3A) with 32 protein are similar to the values obtained for poly(A) and this protein. When [3H]poly(A,8-N3A)/32 protein mixtures were irradiated at 254 nm, fluorescence quenching was not reversed by NaCl, suggesting that the label was covalently bound to the protein. Mixtures of photolabel and protein subjected to short periods of irradiation (generally 1 min, 2000 erg mm-2) formed high molecular weight complexes, which when electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels were radioactive and stained with Coomassie Blue R. Under the same conditions, [3H]poly(A) failed to label 32 protein. The radioactivity of [3H]poly(A,8-N3A)-labeled complexes subjected to micrococcal nuclease after irradiation was seen to migrate just behind the free 32 protein monomer on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, indicating that portions of the photolabel not in direct contact with protein were accessible to this enzyme. By several criteria, we conclude that 32 protein was photolabeled specifically at its single-stranded nucleic acid binding site. Single-stranded nucleic acids with affinities for protein greater than that of poly(A,8-N3A) effectively inhibited photolabeling. The [NaCl] dependence of photolabeling monitored on SDS gels paralleled the NaCl reversal of (noncovalent) poly(A,8-N3A)-32 protein binding. Photolabeling reached a plateau after 1-2 min. The formation of high molecular weight complexes with increasing [poly(A,8-N3A)] paralleled the disappearance of free protein on SDS gels, and reached a saturation level of about 75% labeling. Several chromatographic procedures appear to be useful for the separation of the photolabeled complexes from free protein and photolabel. Limited trypsin hydrolysis of photolabeled 32 protein indicated that all the label was within the central ("III") portion of the protein. This approach should have general applicability to the identification of nucleic acid binding sites on helix-destabilizing proteins.