3.

SYNTHETIC RUBBER
content
• 3.6 BUTYL RUBBER
• 3.7 ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE RUBBER
• 3.8 TRANSPOLYPENTAMER
• 3.9 THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS
3.6 BUTYL RUBBER
• Preparation: by cationic polymerization
Butyl rubber is a copolymer of isobutylene and isoprene.

using AlCl3 cocatalyzed with a small amount of water.

AlCl3 + H2O H+ (AlCl3OH)–
The product is a linear random copolymer that can be cured to a
thermosetting polymer.
This is made possible through the presence of some unsaturation from
isoprene.
properties
• Low permeability to air, gases and moisture.
• Low glass transition temperature.
• Low modulus elastomer.
• Resistance to aging and to weathering from atmospheric exposure
• Processing safety
• High extensibility
use
• Tires
• Adhesives: Chlorinated butyl is a low molecular weight polymer used
as an adhesive and a sealant.
• Bets sealant of all the known rubbers
3.7 ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE RUBBER
• ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE based rubbers are forms of non-polar
synthetic rubbers.
• EPM (sometimes also known as EP) rubber is based on ethylene and
propylene monomers, with no unsaturation (carbon-carbon double
bonds) present.
• EPDM is also based on the same constituent monomers, however as
no unsaturation is present in the backbone, it is added as a third
monomer pendent to the main chain.
• EPDM materials can be cured with either sulphur or peroxide; sulphur
offers improved mechanical properties and peroxide enhanced heat
stability.
• EPM rubber can only be cured using free-radicals (peroxide or
radiation curing). As the polymer chains of both EPM and EPDM have
completely saturated hydrocarbon backbones
uses
• The main use of ethylene-propylene rubber is to produce automotive
parts , wire, and cable coating.
• It mayalso be used to produce tires.
3.8 TRANSPOLYPENTAMER

• Transpolypentamer (TPR) is produced by the ring cleavage of

Cyclopentene.

• Cyclopentene is obtained from cracked naphtha or gas oil, which

contain small amounts of cyclopentene
3.8 TRANSPOLYPENTAMER
• Polymerization using organometallic catalysts produce a stereoregular
product (trans 1,5-polypentamer):

• Due to the presence of residual double bonds, the polymer could be

crosslinked with regular agents.
• TPR is a linear polymer with a high trans configuration.
• It is highly amorphous at normal temperatures and has a Tg of about
90°C and a density of 0.85.
3.9 THERMOPLASTIC
ELASTOMERS
INTRODUCTION:
Thermoplastics can be classified into two broad categories based on their
molecular structure: amorphous and semi-crystalline.
1.Amorphous:
-the polymer chains have a disordered and random arrangement without a
well-defined crystalline structure.
- contain covalent bond
-it melt when heat
-it solidification when cool
-it can recycle
-ex/polyesters
• 2. semi-crystalline:
- the polymer chains are partially ordered, and they form a crystalline
structure.
-region amorphous
-region crystaline
-it contain covalent bond
-it can recycle
ex/ poly olefins such as propylene copolymers, with ethylene
Elastomers:
An Elastomer is a polymeric material that has elongation , cross-linking
and a significant amount of resilience.
Cross-linking in many elastomers is carried out in a process called
vulcanization (heating with Sulphur about 140°C).
• Classification of Elastomers:
1. Natural Rubber (Thermoset by cross-linking
2. Synthetic Rubber (Thermoset by cross-linking)
3. Thermoplastic Elastomers
3.9 THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS
• Thermoplastic elastomers (TPES), as the name indicates, are plastic
polymers with the physical properties of rubbers.
This is a special group of polymers that do not rely on cross-linking to
produce a large amount of elastic deformation.
Characteristics:

• Flexibility: TPEs can stretch and return to their original shape.

• Processability: They can be melted and molded.
• Hardness Range: TPEs are available in various hardness levels.
• Chemical Resistance: They resist a wide range of chemicals.
• more economical to produce than traditional thermoset materials
because fewer steps are required to manufacture them than to
manufacture and vulcanize thermoset rubber.
• they are recyclable.
Some examples :
1.Polymerization by addition
2. Polymerization by condensation
• Polyurethane