Natural rubber glass transition

Tackifying resins enhance the adhesion of non-polar elastomers by improving wettability, increasing polarity and altering the viscoelastic properties. Dahlquist [31 ] established the first evidence of the modification of the viscoelastic properties of an elastomer by adding resins, and demonstrated that the performance of pressure-sensitive adhesives was related to the creep compliance. Later, Aubrey and Sherriff [32] demonstrated that a relationship between peel strength and viscoelasticity in natural rubber-low molecular resins blends existed. Class and Chu [33] used the dynamic mechanical measurements to demonstrate that compatible resins with an elastomer produced a decrease in the elastic modulus at room temperature and an increase in the tan <5 peak (which indicated the glass transition temperature of the resin-elastomer blend). Resins which are incompatible with an elastomer caused an increase in the elastic modulus at room temperature and showed two distinct maxima in the tan <5 curve. 

Quite large elastic strains are possible with minimal stress in TPEs these are the synthetic rubbers. TPEs have two specific characteristics their glass transition temperature (7 ) is below that at which they are commonly used, and their molecules are highly kinked as in natural TS rubber (isoprene). When a stress is applied, the molecular chain uncoils and the end-to-end length can be extended several hundred percent, with minimum stresses. Some TPEs have an initial modulus of elasticity of less than 10 MPa (1,500 psi) once the molecules are extended, the modulus increases. 

FIGURE 26.12 Friction coefficient of a natural rubber (NR) gum compound as function of the ice temperature at three different speeds (left) and friction coefficient of four different gum compounds having different glass transition temperatures as function of the ice track temperature at a constant sliding speed of 0.005 m/s. (From Heinz, M. and Grosch, K.A., ACS Spring Meeting, St Antonio, 2005.)... 

Synthetic and natural rubbers are amorphous polymers, typically with glass transition temperatures well below room temperature. Physical or chemical crosslinks limit chain translation and thus prevent viscous flow. The resulting products exhibit elastic behavior, which we exploit in such diverse applications as hoses, automotive tires, and bicycle suspension units. 

To convert an elastomer into ebonite, the glass transition temperature, Tg, has to be raised to above 20 °C, or above the operating temperature of the product, in order to remain rigid in use. This is achieved by crosslinking the rubber with a large amount of sulphur. Typically, 25 to 50 phr is used for natural rubber ebonites. Ebonites can be produced from NR, BR, IR, SBR and NBR. Rubbers with low unsaturation, e.g., HR and EPDM, do not form ebonites. 

A simple relationship was not found between shrinkage and glass - rubber transitions of both peach and apricot tissue (Campolongo, 2002 Riva et al., 2001, 2002). Even when sorbitol use increased AT (= T — 7g ) values, both the color and the structure showed the highest stability. The fact that sorbitol performed better than sucrose indicates that the chemical nature of the infused solute is more important than its glass transition temperature in preventing structural collapse, in accordance with the results reported by del Valle et al. (1998). 

When different elastomers are being described, a fundamental property which is often quoted is the glass transition temperature, Tg, which differs from one elastomer to another. For example, for natural rubber Tg is -70°C (-95°F). Broadly this means that above -70°C the material behaves as a rubber, but below -70°C the material behaves more like a glass. When glassy, natural rubber is about one thousand times as stiff as it is when rubbery. When glassy, a hammer blow on natural rubber will cause it to shatter like a glass when rubbery the hammer is likely just to bounce off. 

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