Preparation and properties of liquid polyisoprene/natural rubber composites

Abstract

Four kinds of liquid polyisoprene (LIR) with different mole fraction of 3,4- unit were prepared, and the effects of aromatic oil and LIR with different mole fraction of 3,4- unit as plastici-zers on the cross-linking density, physical and mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties and microstructure of natural rubber (NR) were investigated. The results showed that the cross-linking density of NR increased with the increasing mole fraction of 3, 4-unit in LIR. LIR played the role of plasticization and formed a co-crosslinking network with NR. Compared with aromatic oil, NR vulcanizate with LIR as plasticizer had better tensile stress and tear strength. At the same time, LIR with high mole fraction of 3,4- unit had good wet sliding resistance and low rolling resistance. LIR could improve the dispersion of carbon black in NR matrix.

Keywords

• liquid polyisoprene; natural rubber
• composite
• physical and mechanical property
• dynamic mecha-nical property
• microstructure