Controlled degradation of natural rubber and modification of the obtained telechelic oligoisoprenes: Preliminary study of their potentiality as polyurethane foam precursors

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 117; no. 3; pp. 1279 - 1289
• Main Authors: Saetung, Anuwat, Rungvichaniwat, Adisai, Campistron, Irène, Klinpituksa, Pairote, Laguerre, Albert, Phinyocheep, Pranee, Pilard, Jean-François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.08.2010; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cellular; Chemical Sciences; Cleavage; controlled degradation; Degradation; Epoxidation; Exact sciences and technology; Flexibility; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Natural polymers; Natural rubber; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Polyurethane foam; polyurethane foam oligoisoprenes; Ring opening; Technology of polymers; telechelic; Thermal properties; Molecular structure; controlled degradation; telechelic; Telechelic polymer; polyurethane foam oligoisoprenes; Natural rubber; Chemical degradation; Experimental study; Oligomer; Cellular plastic; Hydrogenation; Polyaddition; Thermal stability; Thermal properties; Chemical modification; Preparation; Epoxidation; Hydroxyl group; Plastics; Chemical reactivity; natural rubber; degradation
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.31907

Telechelic oligoisoprenes were successfully prepared by the selective controlled degradation of natural rubber, a renewable source, via epoxidation and cleavage reactions. The molar mass of the oligoisoprene product obtained depends on the degree of epoxidation of the starting materials. The chemically modified structures obtained via epoxidation, hydrogenation, and ring opening of epoxide groups were also studied, and the chemical structures and thermal properties of the oligoisoprene products were determined. Moreover, the preliminary study of preparation of hydroxytelechelic natural rubber (HTNR)-based polyurethane foam was performed. A novel HTNR-based polyurethane foam was successfully prepared and its thermal properties were investigated and the results indicated that the HTNR-based polyurethane foam has a good low temperature flexibility.