Extraction of Low Molecular Weight Materials from Gel Spherules, Using the System: Benzoic Acid/Cyclohexane/Crosslinked Polyisoprene
Abstract Solid spherules of polyisoprene with different crosslink densities, radius 3 mm, were produced in closed, two-part steel molds, at 150° C, from purified natural rubber containing cumyl peroxide, (0.3 to 40 mmol/100 g of polymer). The spherules were swelled in a solution of benzoic acid (1.3 weight per cent) in cyclohexane at 25° C is equilibrium which was reached after about two days. Equlibrium swelling Q is defined as the weight ratio, swelling agent/polymer, for the polymer swelled to equilibrium; 1/Q increases with crosslinking and serves therefore as a measure of crosslinking. The swelled spherules were extracted with cyclohexane or water, at 25° C, in a flow-through, agitating vessel (with vigorous stirring of the liquid) in such a way that the concentration of benzoic acid in the extract was always negligibly low compared to the average concentration in the gel-phase. Quantity of benzoic acid in the gel spherule, M0, was determined before extraction, and also the residual quantity, Mt, as a function of extraction time.