Biotechnologically Modified Rubber Particles for Engine Mounts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devulcanization methods for vulcanized rubber waste result in reduced properties of new rubber mixtures due to high temperatures that cleave both sulfur bridges and polymer chains, leading to downcycling rather than effective recycling.
Innovation Solution
A rubber mixture comprising biotechnologically modified recycled rubber particles with functionalized surfaces, produced by enzyme treatment of ground vulcanized rubber, which preserves the sulfur network and enhances surface functionality, allowing for improved integration into new rubber mixtures without damaging polymer chains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high temperatures exceeding 150°C up to 300°C are used for devulcanization, then sulfur bridges are cleaved, but polymer chains are also cleaved which reduces the properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from conventional high temperatures (150-300°C) to mild temperatures (20-80°C), and introduces enzymatic catalysis to achieve selective cleavage of sulfur bridges without damaging polymer chains, thus resolving the contradiction between devulcanization effectiveness and rubber mixture properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces thermal-mechanical processing with enzymatic biological processing, using specific enzymes (such as rubber oxygenases, lipoxygenases, or other oxidative enzymes) to selectively break sulfur bridges at mild temperatures, avoiding the polymer chain scission caused by conventional thermal methods
2Productivity
If unmodified rubber granules are used in rubber mixtures, then recycling is achieved, but the properties of the new rubber mixture are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary enzymatic modification to rubber granules before incorporating them into new rubber mixtures, creating functionalized surfaces that improve compatibility and integration, thus maintaining high recycling rates while preserving rubber mixture properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies only the surface properties of rubber granules through enzymatic treatment, creating functional groups at the surface while preserving the bulk polymer structure, thereby improving interface compatibility with the rubber matrix without compromising overall material properties
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of enzyme-treated rubber particles with functionalized surfaces enables the addition of higher proportions to new rubber mixtures, maintaining or improving properties, reducing waste, and lowering CO2 emissions by promoting recycling and circular economy utilization.
Implementation Method 1
The recycled rubber particles consist of ground, biotechnologically modified polyisoprene
Implementation Method 2
The functionalized surface having functional groups
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber mixture includes natural rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, synthetic polyisoprene or ethylene-propylene-diene rubber or a blend of two or more types of rubber, filler, crosslinking system and recycled rubber particles. The recycled rubber particles may be biotechnologically modified. The addition of the modified rubber particles can improve the physical properties of rubber mixtures and the lifetime of engine mounts or bushings. The biotechnical processing of the vulcanized rubber and the use of the high-quality modified rubber particles in new mixtures can distinctly reduce the amount of waste and the amount of CO2 emitted by virtue of the use of recyclate and can increase the proportion of recycled material in the product. The disclosure further provides for the use of rubber mixtures for industrial rubber products, such as engine mounts and bushings.