Plasticization of Natural and Synthetic Rubbers. II. GR-S
Abstract Continuing the work described in Part I, experiments have been made to determine the separate effects of heat, oxidation, mechanical working on rolls or in an internal mixer, peptizing agents (used in hot milling), and absorption of softener on the softness, elastic recovery, and plastic flow relation (between applied force and rate of flow) of GR-S. Heat alone, without oxygen or mechanical action, does not soften GR-S, but makes it harder and more elastic, presumably by inducing cross-linking of the chain molecules; GR-S thus differs fundamentally from natural rubber, which can be softened by heat. Absorption of softener (mineral oil) softens GR-S and reduces its recovery, but these effects are too small to form a practicable plasticizing method. Either oxidation or mechanical working softens GR-S considerably, reduces its elastic recovery, and brings its plastic flow relation nearer to that of well masticated natural rubber, i.e., approaching ordinary viscous or Newtonian flow (flow rate proportional to stress). Peptizing agents such as benzaldehyde phenylhydrazone or iron naphthenate promote the effect of hot milling, presumably by accelerating oxidation, which is shown to occur during hot, but not appreciably in cold, milling. Of the methods tried, those which plasticize GR-S most quickly are (1) hot milling with a peptizing agent, and (2) oxidation at 125° C and 15 lb. per sq. in. oxygen pressure ; if the latter is continued too long, however, hardening sets in. The results show that GR-S, like natural rubber, can be plasticized by mechanical breakage of the chain molecules by the shear stresses set up during mastication, as well as by oxidation, which presumably causes breakage of the molecules at the double bonds. Mechanical and oxidative treatments, however, do not give the same properties ; mechanical breakdown in the cold gives a product completely soluble in benzene, whereas oxidation does not, and is less effective in reducing recovery, and there may be other differences not yet revealed. In view of these differences and the fact that heat has effects opposite to oxidation or mechanical working, it follows that the various possible ways of plasticizing GR-S, since they involve heat, oxidation, and mechanical action in different combinations and degrees, give plasticized batches with very different properties, even if the length of the treatments is so adjusted as to give, say, the same Williams or Mooney plasticity reading. These differences are fully discussed in the present paper; the main conclusions are: