pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S11 - Elastomers and Thermoplastic Elastomers
Poster Presentation
 
 

Thermoplastic elastomer based on regenerated rubber waste

Araujo Mirna N. (1), de Sousa Ana Maria F. (2), Escocio Viviane A. (1), Cavalcante André de P. (1), Visconte Leila L.Y. (1)*, Pacheco Elen B.A.V. (1)

(1) Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, (2) Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Polymeric blends are widely used to developing new materials, and in this segment, thermoplastic elastomers (TPVs) have an important contribution. TPVs are high-performance elastomers that combine the best attributes of vulcanized rubber – such as flexibility and low compression set – with the easy processing of thermoplastics. In this context, the use of rubber waste turns out to be a challenge that aligns technological development with sustainability characteristics. In the present research work, the production of a thermoplastic elastomer and milled vulcanized rubber scraps, herein referred to as “Hav”, was studied. Hav is the residue resulting from the process of sandals production. The initial object of this research was to evaluate the effect of time and shear rate on the chemical-mechanical regeneration of waste rubber Hav in the presence of a regenerating chemical agent (TBBS). The process was carried out on an usual rubber processing equipment (an open roll mixer), by mixing with Hav residue, in addition to TBBS, the following additives: sulfur, zinc oxide and stearic acid. The resulting material was then analysed as for the rheometric parameters and the results indicated that these parameters were affected only by TBBS, which is evidenced by the reduction of the initial torque for the compositions containing this chemical agent. In the preparation of TPVs, thermoplastic was mixed with: a) non-regenerated Hav (Havnon); b) regenerated Hav (Havreg); and 3) non-regenerated Hav in the presence of vulcanizing additives (Havnon+add). Mixtures were carried out in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, Tecktril model DCT-20. The feeding was performed by using volumetric dosage with speed of 15 rpm. Extrudates were quenched in a cold water bath, grinded into pellets and then dried during 24 hours at 60oC. All the standard test specimens were produced by injection molding on an Injection Molding Machine (Allrounder 270S-400-170, Arburg Germany).