Rubber, natural mass production

Biotechnology can be defined as the use, modification or ffiimicing of naturally-occurring materials. In this context, several types of biotechnology-derived polymers exist, although they re not always in mass production. This paper will summarize some pertinent information for certain biotechnology derived polymers, such as wool, cotton, silk, rubber casein and the cellulosics. In addition, some potential new polymers, and polymer applications, from biotechnology are briefly discussed. 

The polymer in natural rubber consists almost entirely of ci -poly(isoprene) (1.6). The molecules are linear, with relative molar mass typically lying between 300 000 and 500 000. The macromolecular nature of rubber was established mainly by Staudinger in 1922, when he hydrogenated the material and obtained a product that retained its colloidal character, rather than yielding fragments of low relative molar mass. 

But Farben was unable to meet the competition of the natural-rubber producers. They were millions in the red on this one dream. In 1931, by a very close margin, Ter Meer persuaded his colleagues to go along for another year in one last effort to keep buna in experimental production. By the time he met Hitler, Ter Meer stood alone in his faith that soon buna could be mass-produced at a profit. 

Schoenmakers et al. [72] analyzed two representative commercial rubbers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and detected more than 100 different compounds. The rubbers, mixtures of isobutylene and isoprene, were analyzed after being cryogenically grinded and submitted to two different extraction procedures a Sohxlet extraction with a series of solvents and a static-headspace extraction, which entailed placing the sample in a 20-mL sealed vial in an oven at 110°C for 5,20, or 50 min. Although these are not the conditions to which pharmaceutical products are submitted, the results may give an idea of which compounds could be expected from these materials. Residual monomers, isobutylene in the dimeric or tetrameric form, and compounds derived from the scission of the polymeric chain were found in the extracts. Table 32 presents an overview of the nature of the compounds identified in the headspace and Soxhlet extracts of the polymers. While the liquid-phase extraction was able to extract less volatile compounds, the headspace technique was able to show the presence of compounds with low molecular mass... 

A subtle aspect of stability analysis of freeze-dried products in vials with rubber stoppers is the tendency for water vapor to be transferred from the stopper to the solid during storage. Representative data for residual moisture as a function of time at different temperatures are shown in Figure 11. As expected, the residual moisture level increases more rapidly at higher temperature, but the plateau level is independent of temperature as equilibrium is established between the freeze-dried solid and the stopper. The extent to which this is observed depends on several factors. First, the nature of the rubber stopper formulation affects the diffusivity of water in the rubber. Second, the processing of the stopper can affect the level of residual moisture present. It is not uncommon for extended drying of the stopper to be necessary to minimize residual moisture. Finally, the mass of the freeze-dried solid determines the extent to which the percent residual moisture is affected by water vapor transfer from the stopper, where large cakes may be relatively unaffected by the small amount of water vapor that is... 

In terms of conclusions, rubber powder recovered from old tires is recognized as a valuable raw material that may be processed into useful products. Reference [33] exhibits the static and dynamic vibration properties of visco-elastic rubber materials, as well as their mechanical properties. At the optimum curing conditions (180 C, 10 min, 10 M Pa), the effect of sulfur and plasticizer on the vibration properties of the material are of interest. It is thus possible to prepare a material suitable for use in antivibration mountings, by choosing the right values of sulfur and plasticizer, according to the vibration characteristics of the machine (i.e., its mass and natural undamped resonant frequency). 

To manufacture chlorinated rubber (CR) natural or synthetic rubber such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyisoprene is degraded to low molecular mass compounds by mastication or addition of radical formers and dissolved in carbon tetrachloride (CTC). Chlorine contents are typically 64-68 wt%. Chlorine gas is introduced into this solution and reacts with the raw material to form CR. The solution is then introduced into boiling water. The CR is precipitated, and the solvent vaporizes. The CR is separated from water, rinsed, dried and ground to form a white powder which is the saleable product. After removal of the water, chlorine, hydrochloric acid and other impurities the solvent is reused. 

Due to their high molecular masses, macromolecular substances (polymers) show particular properties not observed for any other class of materials. In many cases, the chemical nature, the size, and the structure of these giant molecules result in excellent mechanical and technical properties. They can display very long linear chains, but also cyclic, branched, crosslinked, hyperbranched, and dendritic architectures as well. The thermoplastic behaviour or the possibility of crosslinking of polymeric molecules allow for convenient processing into manifold commodity products as plastics, synthetic rubber, films, fibres, and paints (Fig. 1.1). 

Mixtures, formulated blends, or copolymers usually provide distinctive pyrolysis fragments that enable qualitative and quantitative analysis of the components to be undertaken, e.g., natural rubber (isoprene, dipentene), butadiene rubber (butadiene, vinylcyclo-hexene), styrene-butadiene rubber (butadiene, vinyl-cyclohexene, styrene). Pyrolyses are performed at a temperature that maximizes the production of a characteristic fragment, perhaps following stepped pyrolysis for unknown samples, and components are quantified by comparison with a calibration graph from pure standards. Different yields of products from mixed homopolymers and from copolymers of similar constitution may be found owing to different thermal stabilities. Appropriate copolymers should thus be used as standards and mass balance should be assessed to allow for nonvolatile additives. The amount of polymer within a matrix (e.g., 0.5%... 

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