The Effect of New Antiagglomerators of the Quantislip Series for Solution-Polymerised Rubber on the Properties of cis-1,4-polyisoprene
The results of pilot-plant tests of SKI-3 isoprene rubber containing a series of Quantislip™ rubber crumb antiagglomerators (AAs) are presented. Tests were conducted at OAO ‘Sintez Kauchuk’, with the AAs introduced at the degassing stage. The new Quantislip AAs, developed by OOO ‘NPP Kvalitet’, ensure a reduction in calcium and chlorine ions in wastewater and in its alkalinity. An improvement in the elastic strength properties of carbon-black-filled vulcanisates based on cis-1,4-polyisoprene (SKI-3) and containing AAs was shown. For the production of SKI-3 rubber, an optimum AA composition – Quantislip of grade BM-2R – was developed. When BM-2R is used, stearic acid, formed in standard rubber with a calcium stearate suspension as AA, is eliminated. The possible mechanism of improvement in the strength properties of carbon-black-filled vulcanisates based on SKI-3 is discussed. This is possibly due to an improvement in rubber–filler interaction as a result of there no longer being any competition between segments of macromolecules and stearic acid for active centres when carbon black is adsorbed on the surface.