THERMOMECHANICAL STUDY OF BUTYL RUBBER MASTICATION DURING COMPOUNDING

A thermomechanical method was used to study the topological and molecu lar structure of model rubber compounds. This structure changes becaus e of mastication during compounding. It was found that raw butyl rubbe r has a diblock structure. The molecular weight distribution of the ch ains between the junctions of the polymer network, the coefficient of polydispersity, a share of low-temperature and high-temperature blocks , and changes in their glass transition temperatures as a result of th e mixing of butyl rubber depend on both the presence of sulfur and the kind of sulfur (polymeric or mineral). (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, In c.