A comparison of Guayule and Standard Natural

Rubber and it’s potential in rubber recycling

Bio Rubber for Europe in Global Perspective - Conference

24 – 25 September 2012

Bob Kind
Technical Director – Polymer Recyclers Ltd UK
From Maurice Morton ‘Introduction to Rubber Technology’ 1959
Rubber trees being
tapped in India
Low Temperature storage at – 5 oC for approximately 1 day
 o
Low Temperature storage at – 5 C for approximately 3 days
ASTM D2227 – 96 [ Reapproved 2007]
Specifications for Technically Graded Natural Rubber
Property Rubber Grade
L CV 5 10 20

Dirt retained on 45 0.050 0.050 0.050 0.100 0.200

Micron sieve, % max
Ash, % max 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.75 1.00
Volatile matter, % max 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80 0.80
Nitrogen , % max 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60 0.60
Initial plasticity index, min 30 ----- 30 30 30
Plasticity retention index, 60 60 60 50 40
min
Color index, max 6.0 ----- ----- ----- ----
Mooney viscosity ---- 60+/-5 ----- ----- -----
 ASTM D 2227 – Results of Guayule compared to Standard Grades

Property Rubber Grade

GUAYULE SMR5L SVR10

RESULT RESULT SPEC RESULT SPEC

Dirt retained on 45 0.050 0.100

Micron sieve, % max
Ash, % max 1.22 0.20 0.60 0.52 0.75

Volatile matter, % max 0.60 0.59 0.80 0.55 0.80

Nitrogen , % max 0.60 0.60

Initial plasticity index, 5 41.5 30 44 30

min
Plasticity retention NA 70 60 52.3 50
index [PRI], min
Ash content
 SMR 5L

GUAYULE
ASTM D 3184 – 07
Standard Test Methods Evaluation of NR – Test formulations

Formulation Ref 3A Gum 2A Black filled

Natural rubber 100.00 100.00
Zinc oxide 6.00 5.00
Stearic acid 0.5 2.00
N330 carbon black --- 35.00
Sulphur 3.50 2.25
TBBS 0.70 0.70
TOTAL 110.70 144.95
ASTM D 3184 – 07 - Gum compounds
Vulcanisation graphs from oscillating disc rheometer at 160 oC
ASTM D 3184 – Gum formulations

SVR 10

SMR 5

Guayule
Compression moulded vulcanised test sheets
Vulcanisation graphs from oscillating disc rheometer at 160 oC

ASTM D 3184 – Black formulations

SVR 10

SMR 5

Guayule
Comments on mixing and moulding
[1] Guayule is very sticky
[2] Guayule needs no mastication prior to incorporation of
chemicals.
[3] Carbon black is incorporated quickly
[4] Guayule shows faster onset of vulcanisation but lower state
of cure
[5] During moulding less air trapping
[6] Discolours during vulcanisation which might make it
unsuitable for light coloured products and also may suggest
poor ageing characteristics.
 ASTM 3184 - Gum Formulation – Results

Property GUAYULE SMR 5 SVR 10

Hardness IRHD 35.7 44.8 45.8

Creep -1.0 -0.5 -0.3
Hysteresis 0.2 0.0 0.0
Tensile strength, MPa 10.4 22.4 22.0
Elongation at break % 625 567 537
Tear strength,T N/mm 6.44 13.35 8.19
Abrasion loss,%, DIN NA -8.5 -10.2
Tensile strength change -50 -43 -47
[%] after ageing in air 7 days at
70C

Elongation at break -6 -15 -11

change [%] after ageing in
air
 ASTM 3184 - Black Formulation – Results

Property GUAYULE SMR 5 SVR 10

Hardness IRHD 51.9 61.2 62.3

Creep -2.2 -1.4 -1.3
Hysteresis 1.7 0.3 0.3
Tensile strength, MPa 20.0 30.7 30.3
Elongation at break % 715 573 534
Tear strength,T N/mm 28.9 26.8 21.3
Abrasion loss, %,DIN -12.5 -9 -9.3
Tensile strength change -71 -18 -23
[%] after ageing in air 7 days
at 70C

Elongation at break -36 -15 -18

change [%] after ageing in
air
Comments on Physical Properties

• Guayule produces very soft vulcanisates

• It is much weaker but elongation higher than SMR5 or
SVR10
• Hysteresis loss is greater which in tyre applications could
result in greater heat build up and potential tyre failure.
• The ageing properties could be improved by the addition of
suitable antioxidants
• Tear strength of the black reinforced compound is especially
good.
Available technologies for ‘devulcanisation’ of scrap rubber
Mechanical with chemicals Size reduction and surface treatment
Polymer Recyclers - ReTern Lehigh Technologies – powdered rubber

Levgum
Big Tire – waterjet production of crumb

SRI
Imperial College - waterjet

Green Rubber, Petra industries

Mechanical no chemicals
STI - Delink
Avraam Corp - ultrasonics

Rubber Resources - reclaim

Watson Brown – mechanical shearing of
sulphur bonds

Biological
Swansea University - plasma

Recyclatech
Smithers RAPRA – CO2 mechanical
shearing in the presence of super
critical gas
Low cost rubber compound --
Containing 81% recycled truck tyre crumb

SVR10 Guayule
FIRST STAGE pbw pbw
Tyre crumb 40 mesh 163 163
NR SVR10 27
Guayule 27
Stearic acid 2 2
SECOND STAGE
Sulphur 2 2
Zinc oxide 5 5
TMTD 0.2 0.2
CBS 1 1
Vulcanisation characteristics – Rheometer [ODR] at 180 oC

SVR 10 Guayule

Viscosity T min 26 13
dNm
Scorch Tmin +1 0.71 0.65
[onset of vulcanisation] Dec mins
Maximum torque T max 74 53
dNm
Optimum vulcanistion T 90% 1.57 1.81
time Dec mins
Physical properties after vulcanisation at 160 oC

Property SVR10 Guayule

Hardness IRHD 63 61

Creep -1.4 -1.6

Hysteresis loss 0.4 0.5

Tensile strength MPa 7.8 8.5

Elongation at break % 210 267

Tear strength, type T,N/mm 9.1 7.7

Abrasion loss, %, DIN -7.5 -8.8

Possible applications for Guayule

•  Binders for textile cords and fabrics

•  Adhesives
•  Low hardness rubber products
•  Latex applications – low modulus high strength
•  Passenger tyres

Thank you