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Enhanced Properties of Dissimilar Rubber Blends Using Microencapsulated Sulfur Through Acetylene Plasma Polymerization
Author(s) -
Guo Rui,
Talma Auke G.,
Datta Rabin N.,
Dierkes Wilma K.,
Noordermeer Jacques W. M.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200900150
Subject(s) - materials science , vulcanization , sulfur , natural rubber , wetting , styrene butadiene , polymerization , surface energy , plasma polymerization , contact angle , surface modification , gravimetric analysis , composite material , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , copolymer , styrene , organic chemistry , polymer , chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
Surface modification of sulfur by vacuum plasma polymerization with acetylene was applied in order to modify its surface properties without losing reactivity for vulcanization. A nm‐thin layer of crosslinked polyacetylene was deposited on the surface of the sulfur powder. Its surface energy was decreased as monitored by wetting in liquids of various polarities. A delay in the onset of weight loss by sublimation in thermal gravimetric analysis was shown by the plasma‐modified sulfur. Scanning electron microscopy showed a core/shell structure of the coated sulfur. In 50:50 blends of styrene‐butadiene rubber and ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber, the encapsulated sulfur samples resulted in pronounced improvements in the mechanical properties relative to the use of unmodified sulfur.