Carboxyl-containing elastomers

A specialty class of carboxyl containing elastomers are the telechelic ionomers. In these systems the carboxyl functionality terminates both ends of the polymer chain. Such polymers range in molecular weight from 1500 to about 6000. These materials can be prepared via several synthetic routes involving anionic or free radical initiated polymeri-zation(32-34). Recently, telechelic sulfonate ionomers of poly-isobutylene have been synthesized(35). These systems offer an unusual opportunity to assess the influence of chain length, chain architecture, cation type, and the Influence of polar additives on ionomer properties. 

Carboxylate-containing elastomers and the effects of the free acid and metal carboxylate groups on elastomer properties have been studied... 

Powder adhesives can be prepared by reacting carboxylic elastomers with epoxy resins to convert the system into a RT solid which can be ground into a powder. Powders can be electrostatically applied or coated using a fluidized bed. Films are prepared by solvent coating or by melt coating the carboxyl containing elastomer or compound onto a suitable carrier. 

EPDM-Derived Ionomers. Another type of ionomer containing sulfonate, as opposed to carboxyl anions, has been obtained by sulfonating ethylene—propjlene—diene (EPDM) mbbers (59,60). Due to the strength of the cross-link, these polymers are not inherently melt-processible, but the addition of other metal salts such as zinc stearate introduces thermoplastic behavior (61,62). These interesting polymers are classified as thermoplastic elastomers (see ELASTOLffiRS,SYNTHETIC-THERMOPLASTICELASTOLffiRS). 

Many synthetic latices exist (7,8) (see Elastomers, synthetic). They contain butadiene and styrene copolymers (elastomeric), styrene—butadiene copolymers (resinous), butadiene and acrylonitrile copolymers, butadiene with styrene and acrylonitrile, chloroprene copolymers, methacrylate and acrylate ester copolymers, vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl and vinyUdene chloride copolymers, ethylene copolymers, fluorinated copolymers, acrylamide copolymers, styrene—acrolein copolymers, and pyrrole and pyrrole copolymers. Many of these latices also have carboxylated versions. 

Because of the different vulcanization chemistry involved in each commercial ACM, a vulcanization system specific to the cure site present has to be adopted. Many cure systems for labile chlorine containing ACM have been proposed (45). Among these the alkali metal carboxylate—sulfur cure system, or soap—sulfur as it is called in the United States, became the mainstay of acryflc elastomer technology in the early 1960s (46), and continues to be widely used. 

Hydroformylation of nitrile rubber is another chemical modification that can incorporate a reactive aldehyde group into the diene part and further open up new synthetic routes to the formation of novel nitrile elastomers with a saturated backbone containing carboxyl or hydroxyl functionalities. 

Anionic polymerization of pivalolactone with the polystyrene anion produced only homopolymer mixtures, but the polystyrene carboxylate anion was able to give a block copolymer336. The block efficiency depends on catalyst ratio and conversion because the initiation step is slow compared with propagation337. Tough and elastic films were obtained by graft copolymerization or block copolymerization of pivalolactone onto elastomers containing tetrabutylammonium carboxylate groups338,339. ... 

Ionomer-type elastomers, containing small amounts (less than 5%) of metal carboxylate or sulfonate groups, have potential as a new class of thermoplastic elastomers. Carboxylic acid groups are introduced into polymers such as polybutadiene by copolymerization with a monomer such as acrylic or methacrylic acid. 

The carboxyl terminated polybutadiene (C-3000) is about equally effective to CTBN in heat distortion temperature and impact but considerably less effective in strength. From the haze data (the percent haze of ERL-4221 modified with 10 phr of CTBN and C-3000 were 17 and 85% respectively) it is quite clear that this elastomer (C-3000) is highly incompatible with the epoxy-hardener system in the cured state. A 2000 molecular weight polybutadiene elastomer, containing no carboxyl groups, was completely incompatible with the epoxy system and segregated in the cured state. 

Non-discoloring, sulfur containing phenolic antioxidant and stabilizer that provides long-term heat stability by preventing thermo-oxidative degradation. Used for the process stabilization of polyethylene wire and cable resins for polyethylene during extruder compounding. Can also be applied in styrenic polymers, polypropylene, elastomers such as EPDM and SBR and for carboxylated SBR latex, polybutadiene rubber and polyisopropene rubber. 

Appropriate telechelic polymers produced from a variety of monomers may be incorporated as reactive components in a variety of applications such as sealants, elastomers, foams, and fibers. Such telechelic polymers may impart almost any desired characteristic such as hydrophilic properties, elastomeric properties, dyeability, and solvent resistance. A dihydroxy telechelic polymer may be reacted with a telechelic polymer containing two carboxylic acid groups to produce a condensed polyester. Accordingly, from these telechelic entities one may produce block copolymers that will have alternating addition polymer residues of like or unlike repeat units. In addition, block copolymers can be produced by modifications of this procedure in which addition polymers are alternated with condensation polymer units. 

The amount of elastomer contained in a rubber-modified epoxy resin is usually dictated by the final application and material properties desired. Knowing that one equivalent of epoxide reacts with one equivalent of carboxylic acid and the final concentration of elastomer that is desired, one can add another term to Equation (2) to account for the equivalents of epoxide consumed during the esterification reaction. The equivalent weight of the CTBN elastomers vary from lot to lot but is typically —1800 g eq . Using this number as an example, the expanded equation now reads,... 

---