The Structure of Elastomers and Their Reactivity
Abstract It has not yet been ascertained what constituent parts within the structure of various elastomers have the greatest influence on the reactivity of the elastomers. There are indications that the side chains, the presence of methyl groups acting as substitutes, and differences in spatial configurations, etc., all have definite effects. The present authors have investigated the oxidation of several different elastomers at different temperatures. The experiments were carried out both in the presence and in the absence of an inhibitor (phenyl-β-naphthylamine). The elastomers and the inhibitor were first carefully purified. The kinetics of autoxidations were studied volumetrically by means of an apparatus already described by one of the authors. A chainless molecular introduction of oxygen into the double bonds of the elastomer in the presence of the inhibitor was studied with the aid of our own previously described inhibitor methods. The study included the oxidation of butadiene elastomers containing different distributions of double bonds in the main and side chains, divinylstyrene rubber, and the hydrocarbons of natural rubber and gutta-percha. These products are distinguished by their different degrees of unsaturation, the number of side chains, the number of double bonds in both their main and side chains, the length of their molecular chains (the mean molecular weight), and their spatial configurations.