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An environmental friendly approach for recycling of post‐vulcanized fluoroelastomer scraps through high‐shear mechanical milling
Author(s) -
Zhang Xinxing,
Lu Canhui,
Zheng Qingyu,
Liang Mei
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.1729
Subject(s) - materials science , vulcanization , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , elongation , shear (geology) , gel permeation chromatography , natural rubber , chemical engineering , polymer , engineering
An environmental friendly approach for partial de‐crosslinking of post‐vulcanized fluoroelastomer (FKM) scraps through high‐shear mechanical milling has been developed for recycling of the FKM. The method not only overcomes the expensive use and recovery of organic solvents but also gives rise to reclaimed rubbers with superior mechanical properties. After 32 cycles of milling, the gel fraction of FKM decreased from its original 97.8% to 79.7%. The appearance of the –CF 2 ‐associated peaks C1s spectra after mechanical milling confirmed the partial de‐crosslinking of FKM. The structure change of FKM sol part before and after mechanical milling was also investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements. The reclaimed FKM exhibited excellent mechanical and thermal properties, indicating a strong potential for future applications. The tensile strength of FKM re‐vulcanizates is 6.6 MPa, retaining about 84% properties of virgin FKM vulcanizates (7.9 MPa), and the elongation at break was increased from 337.1% to 368.7%. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.