CONDUCTIVE RUBBER

Y Sun, E Ruckenstein. Poly(3-methylthiophene)-rubber conductive composite prepared via an inverted emulsion pathway. Synth Met 1995 74 145-150. 

The radiation and temperature dependent mechanical properties of viscoelastic materials (modulus and loss) are of great interest throughout the plastics, polymer, and rubber from initial design to routine production. There are a number of laboratory research instruments are available to determine these properties. All these hardness tests conducted on polymeric materials involve the penetration of the sample under consideration by loaded spheres or other geometric shapes [1]. Most of these tests are to some extent arbitrary because the penetration of an indenter into viscoelastic material increases with time. For example, standard durometer test (the "Shore A") is widely used to measure the static "hardness" or resistance to indentation. However, it does not measure basic material properties, and its results depend on the specimen geometry (it is difficult to make available the identity of the initial position of the devices on cylinder or spherical surfaces while measuring) and test conditions, and some arbitrary time must be selected to compare different materials. 

Place 0 5 ml. of the pyridine in a 200 ml. round- or flat-bottomed flask and add 34 ml. (30 g.) of benzene. Fit the flask with a reflux water-condenser, and then place it in a cold water-bath. If the experiment is conducted in a fume-cupboard, the top of the condenser can be closed with a calcium chloride tube bent downwards (as in Fig. 61, p. 105 or in Fig. 23(A), p. 45, where the outlet-tube A will carry the calcium chloride tube) and the hydrogen bromide subsequently allowed to escape if, however, the experiment is performed in the open laboratory, fit to the top of the condenser (or to the outlet-tube A) a glass delivery-tube which leads through a piece of rubber tubing to an inverted glass funnel, the rim of which dips just below the surface of some water... 

Solvents with boiling points below 90-95°. A steam bath or water bath should be employed. Alternatively, the apparatus of Fig. 77,13, 3, but with a Alter flask as receiver, may be used the end of the rubber tubing attached to the tubulure is either placed in the sink or allowed to hang over the bench. If a distillation is ultimately to be conducted in the flask from which the solvent is removed, the apparatus depicted in Fig. 77,13, 4 is recommended the distilling flask may be replaced by a Claisen flask or a Claisen flask with fractionating side arm, particularly if the subsequent distillation is to be conducted under diminished pressure. 

Vulcani2ed mbber is an insulator (volume resistivity is 10 Q-cm), and the static generated by mbber tires created serious problems in vehicles until the introduction of electrically conductive carbon black as a reinforcing pigment. An excellent correlation was found between the potential generated and the resistivity of the tires (127,128) (see Rubber natural). 

R. R. Juengel, Carbon Black Selection for Conductive Bacbber Compounds, Paper No. 78, Rubber Division, ACS Meeting, Los Angeles, Calif., Apr. 1985. 

N. Probst and J. C. Bouquin, Extra Conductive Black Printex XE2 and Its Multiple Facets in The Polymer Industy, Paper No. 59, Rubber Division, ALS... 

Between the 1920s when the initial commercial development of mbbery elastomers based on 1,3-dienes began (5—7), and 1955 when transition metal catalysts were fkst used to prepare synthetic polyisoprene, researchers in the U.S. and Europe developed emulsion polybutadiene and styrene—butadiene copolymers as substitutes for natural mbber. However, the tire properties of these polymers were inferior to natural mbber compounds. In seeking to improve the synthetic material properties, research was conducted in many laboratories worldwide, especially in the U.S. under the Rubber Reserve Program. 

F.thylene oxide attacks rubber very rapidly. Hence if rul)l)cr is used to connect the glass tubes which conduct the gas to tlie reaction flask, care must be taken to have the glass tubes meet inside tlie ruliber tul)ing. 

For very many years it has been common practice to improve the electrical conductivity of plastics and rubbers by the incorporation of certain additives like special grades of carbon black. Such materials were important, for example, in hospital operating theatres where it was essential that static charges did not build up, leading to explosions involving anaesthetics. 

A powder was emptied down a metal duct into a plant vessel. The duct was replaced by a rubber hose, as shown in Figure 15-2. The flow of powder down the hose caused a charge to collect on it. Although the hose was reinforced with metal wire and was therefore conducting, it was connected to the plant at each end by short polypropylene pipes that were nonconducting. A charge therefore accumulated on the hose, a spark occurred, the dust exploded, and a man was killed. 

Copper and silver tarnish readily in sulphide atmospheres, and copper in contact with sulphur-vulcanised rubber will sometimes react with the sulphur, devulcanising it in the process. The growth of conducting sulphide whiskers on silver is noteworthy as these whiskers may give rise to short circuits across silver-plated contacts. Ammonia has little effect on most metals, but traces will tarnish many copper alloys and cause stress-corrosion cracking of certain stressed brasses. 

---