Regeneration of Vulcanized Compounds Based on Butadiene-Styrene Copolymer

Abstract

A chemomechanical regeneration system was used for the recycling of SBR-based (butadiene-styrene copolymer) elastomer waste. The effect of the addition of mixtures of TBBS (N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazole sulphenamide), stearic acid, zinc oxide, and sulfur on the rheometric, mechanical, and swelling properties of SBR-based elastomers was evaluated. These mixtures were utilized as a regeneration agent for vulcanizated rubber, at room temperature. The incorporation of the regeneration agent into elastomers waste was performed in a open mill. This agent regeneration also acts as a vulcanization agent at high temperatures. The results showed that after regeneration, the waste was still capable of being revulcanized without the necessity of incorporating any other additive or another virgin elastomeric matrix. The mechanical properties showed satisfactory values for the revulcanized regenerated waste, despite the low plasticity of these materials before recuring.

Keywords:

• elastomers
• recycling
• regeneration
• waste

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Petroflex Indústria e Comércio S/A, Bann Química, Intercuf ltda, Flexys Ltda, for supplying the raw materials, Tratamento de Resíduos Industriais de Belford Roxo (Tribel S/A) and Koleta Ambiental S/A, for the disposal of the generated wastes at IMA-UFRJ, and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the financial support.

Notes

¹MBT: 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole.

²TMTD: Tetramethyl thiuram disulfide.