Production of Synthetic Elastomers

Course Content

• POLYMER TYPES & NATURE - MAIN ELASTOMERS

  • Polymer constitution: monomers, macromolecules, building blocks.
  • Various kinds of polymer: fibers, elastomers, plastics.
  • Main elastomers: styrene-butadiene-styrene, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber…
  • Relative economic status of different categories of elastomers.

• POLYMERIZATION OF ELASTOMERS - RELATED PROPERTIES

  • Type of reaction and basic characteristics of polymer reactions: polyaddition, polycondensation, heat of reaction, activation mode, catalytic systems, etc.
  • Different arrangements of monomer building blocks in polyaddition: atactic, syndiotactic or isotactic polymers; random, alternated, block, grafted polymers and others.
  • Influence of monomer arrangements on the properties of elastomers.
  • Relationship between end uses and main elastomer properties. Impact of glass transition temperature.
  • Main tests used to get elastomer characterization: solution viscosity, Mooney viscosity, gel permeation chromatography, tensile test.
  • Shore hardness, relaxation test, etc.
  • Test signification, relationship with polymer structure.
  • Consequences regarding the elastomer processing techniques (formulation, vulcanization, extrusion, injection, etc.).

• INDUSTRIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF POLYMERIZATION - MAIN ELASTOMERS PROCESSES

  • Techniques implemented to produce polymers: solution, bulk, emulsion, suspension, gas phase techniques.
  • Advantages and drawbacks of those different techniques, consequences on industrial implementation of the processes.
  • Examples applied to main processes used to manufacture major synthetic elastomers, continuous and batch processes.
  • Flow charts and principles of processes. Typical operating conditions.
  • Influence of operating parameters (temperatures, pressures, monomers ratio and proportion of any chemicals involved in the reaction) regarding the quality control of the elastomer.