Properties of partially chlorinated rubbers

Abstract

Partially chlorinated rubbers were prepared by chlorination of natural rubber, pre-vulcanized rubber, and polychloroprene rubber latexes, in order to compare the film forming, chemical resistant and ozone resistant properties. The rubber latexes obtained from chlorination were the white viscous with 0.02-0.25% chlorine content. Films of chlorinated natural rubber (CNR) and chlorinated pre-vulcanized rubber (CPVR) were flat and slippery. Moreover, they had some cracks on the surface. Compared to non-chlorinated rubber films, which were not slippery, they had a lot of cracks on the surface. For chlorinated polychloroprene rubber (CPC) film, it was brittle and had a lot of cracks. Chlorinated natural rubber and chlorinated pre-vulcanized rubber could be dissolved in hydrocarbon solvents, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and esters, but not in alcohols. They could resist to acid, base, vegetable oil, and lubricant oil better, but in hydrocarbon solvents, chlorinated hydrocarbon, and ester. Chlorinated polychloroprene rubber resisted the chemicals and solvents tested. The thermal and ozone resistant ability of chlorinated rubbers did not differ from non-chlorinated rubbers.