Butyl rubber, permeability

These are all influenced by temperature, which results in increased permeability with increasing temperature through increased polymer mobility. Permeability is determined partly by polymer structure and by compounding considerations. If the structure contains polar groups, then permeability is reduced, e.g., nitrile rubbers [23]. Likewise, the presence of methyl groups reduces permeability (butyl rubber). Permeability is also influenced strongly by the amount and type of filler used in the rubber (see Section 7.6.3.2). 

Vulcanisation can be effected by diamines, polyamines and lead compounds such as lead oxides and basic lead phosphite. The homopolymer vulcanisate is similar to butyl rubber in such characteristics as low air permeability, low resilience, excellent ozone resistance, good heat resistance and good weathering resistance. In addition the polyepichlorohydrins have good flame resistance. The copolymers have more resilience and lower brittle points but air impermeability and oil resistance are not so good. The inclusion of allyl glycidyl ether in the polymerisation recipe produces a sulphur-curable elastomer primarily of interest because of its better resistance to sour gas than conventional epichlorhydrin rubbers. 

Polyisobutylene has a similar chemical backbone to butyl rubber, but does not contain double carbon-carbon bonds (only terminal unsaturation). Many of its characteristics are similar to butyl rubber (ageing and chemical resistance, low water absorption, low permeability). The polymers of the isobutylene family have very little tendency to crystallize. Their strength is reached by cross-linking instead of crystallization. The amorphous structure of these polymers is responsible for their flexibility, permanent tack and resistance to shock. Because the glass transition temperature is low (about —60°C), flexibility is maintained even at temperatures well below ambient temperature. 

Butyl rubber - This material generally had the least endurance in fatigue tests, but it may be adequate for some cardiovascular applications. Advantages include less sensitivity to stress concentrators than Pellethane, a very low permeability to fluids, a moderate creep resistance and widespread availability at low cost. Disadvantages include a relatively low fatigue resistance compared to the elastomers specifically designed for these applications. The rubber tested was not designed for medical applications and had standard rubber additives and modifiers that were cytotoxic unless the material was extracted after manufacture. 

Diffusion of a gas or liquid through a semi-permeable material. The permeability of elastomers to gases varies with the elastomer type and with the gas. Butyl rubber is much less permeable to air than is natural rubber hence its use in tyre inner tubes and similar apphcations. The rate of permeation is generally related to the size of gas molecule, i.e., the smaller the molecule the higher the rate. The exception is C02 which has a rate 10 to 100 times greater than that of nitrogen. 

Vulcanised butyl rubber is very similar to vulcanised natural rubber in various physical characteristics but has better resistance to oxidation and has low permeability to gases. Hence, it is widely used in tubes for cycles, scooters, motor cars, etc. It is also used as rubber in many other applications. 

Goods with low permeability to moisture, air and oxygen for butyl rubber replacement.. 

PP/TTR-V consumer goods requiring low permeability to moisture, air and oxygen, competing with butyl rubber for example, inner tubes for bikes, bladders for balloons... 

PP/IIR-V is marketed to compete with conventional butyl rubber thanks to its low gas permeability, compliance with the pharmacopoeia and, secondarily, its damping properties. 

PIB and various copolymers are called butyl rubber. Butyl rubbers have lower permeability and higher damping than other elastomers making them ideal materials for tire inner liners and engine mounts. 

Nanocomposites are being used in tires, in particular, tire inner liners. Here, less permeable inner layers are achieved by the introduction of clad layers, which allow the use of a thinner inner liner, resulting in an overall lighter tire. Tire inner layers are typically derived from butyl rubber, often halogenated butyl rubber. 

Poly-isobutylene (PIB) is a very useful rubber because of its very low gas permeability. Co-polymerised with small amounts of isoprene (to enable vulcanisation with sulphur) to butyl rubber (HR), it is the ideal rubber for inner tubes. If PIB would crystallise, it could not be used as a technical rubber The same holds for the rubbers BR and IR. 

The copolymer of isobutylene with a few percent isoprenc (butyl rubber) can be cured to produce an ozone-resistant elastomer with low permeability to oxygen and nitrogen. Butyl rubber has a Tt of — 70 C a refractive index of 1.5081, and a coefficient of linear expansion of 5.7 X 10 cm/cxn C. Chloro and bromo butyl rubber are more resistant to the permeation of oxygen and nitrogen than butyl rubber. 

Butyl rubber is produced by a process in which isobutylene is copolymerized with a small amount of isoprene using aluminum chloride catalyst at temperatures around — 150° F. (20). The isoprene is used to provide some unsaturation, yielding a product that can be vulcanized (43). Vulcanized Butyl rubber is characterized by high tensile strength and excellent flex resistance furthermore, as a result of its low residual unsaturation (only 1 to 2% of that of natural rubber) it has outstanding resistance to oxidative aging and low air permeability. These properties combine to make it an ideal material for automobile inner tubes (3), and Butyl rubber has continued to be preferred over natural rubber for this application, even when the latter has been available in adequate supply. 

Several organic sealants such as epoxy resins, butyl rubber or silicones prove to be more or less permeable and the tiny amount of solvent in the cell is rapidly lost. Suitable organic sealing materials for this technology turn out to be thermoplastic materials, like polyethylene/carboxylate copolymers. So far, Surlyn 1702 ionomer from Dupont has been the main substance used to optimize cell performance and build module prototypes. However, the softening point of Surlyn is rather low (65° C) and at elevated temperatures (> 70°C), serious solvent loss is observed because the bond between Surlyn and TCO-coated glass is substantially weakened [7]. 

The most important characteristics of butyl rubber are its low permeability to air and its thermal stability. These properties account for its major uses in inner tubes, tire inner liners, and tire curing bladders. Because of the poor compatibility of butyl with other rubbers (with respect to both solubility and cure), the halobutyls are preferred. The brominated p-methylstyrene-containing butyl rubbers are used in a number of grafting reactions for tire applications and adhesives. Other uses for butyl rubber are automotive mechanical parts (due to the high damping characteristics of butyl), mastics, and sealants.55... 

Grades of butyl differ by the level of unsaturation, molar masses characterized by Mooney viscosity ML 1 + 8 (100 or 125° C), and the characteristics of the eventually added stabilizer (staining or nonstaining). Butyl rubber, which ranks third in total synthetic elastomers consumed, has unique properties and applications, due to its low gas permeability, to its high hysteresis, and to its low level of unsaturation, sufficient for vulcanization but still providing excellent resistance to oxygen and ozone. 

Examples of preservatives are phenylmercuric nitrate or acetate (0.002% w/v), chlorhexidine acetate (0.01% w/v), thiomersal (0.01% w/v) and benzalkonium chloride (0.01% w/v). Chlorocresol is too toxic to the corneal epithelium, but 8-hydroxy-quinoline and thiomersal may be used in specific instances. The principal consideration in relation to antimicrobial properties is the activity of the bactericide against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major source of serious nosocomial eye infections. Although benzalkonium chloride is probably the most active of the recommended preservatives, it cannot always be used because of its incompatibility with many compounds commonly used to treat eye diseases, nor should it be used to preserve eye-drops containing anaesthetics. As benzalkonium chloride reacts with natural rubbers, silicone or butyl rubber teats should be substituted and products should not be stored for more than 3 months after manufacture because silicone rubber is permeable to water vapour. As with all rubber components, the rubber teat should be pre-equilibrated with the preservative before use. Thermostable eye-drops and lotions are sterilized at 121 °C for 15 minutes. For thermolabile drugs, filtration sterilization followed by aseptic filling into sterile containers is necessary. Eye-drops in plastic bottles are prepared aseptically. 

The most important of the commercial cationic copolymers is butyl rubber prepared from isobutylene and isoprene. Because of its very low air permeability, butyl rubber finds extensive use in tire inner tubes and protective clothing. It is manufactured by low-temperature (— 100°C) copolymerization of about 97% isobutylene and 3% isoprene in chlorocarbon solvents with AICI3 coinitiator (see Table 8.5). More recently, an ozone-resistant copolymer of isobutylene and cyclopentadiene has been marketed. 

Butyl rubber like Hypalon, Neoprene or nitrile rubber is a speciality polymer which can be compounded for a soft, deformable elastic vulcanisate similar to the other elastomers, but having certain distinctive characteristics, like low permeability to all gases and resistance to ageing and ozone cracking. Butyl has poor oil resistance and medium low temperature flexibility. 

Butyl rubber is used in specialty application such as reservoir or canal linings, tank linings, pharmaceuticals and sealing caulks. The low unsaturation and low permeability of the rubber molecule contribute to the chemical inertness of the butyl rubber. 

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