Thiol-Grafted Depolymerizer for Recycled Rubber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods of recycling waste rubber are inefficient, with poor quality reproduction, high energy consumption, and environmental concerns, necessitating a depolymerizer that reduces energy usage, enhances reproduction quality, and increases the applicability of depolymerized rubber.
Innovation Solution
A depolymerizer is developed by grafting thiol groups onto the double bonds of linear conjugated diene monomers such as 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and others, with a specific chemical structure and weight average molecular weight range, to improve the depolymerization process and mechanical properties of recycled rubber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If current recycling methods are used, then rubber waste can be processed, but the reproduction quality is poor and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the rubber polymer by introducing thiol groups at specific grafting ratios (0.01:1 to 0.67:1 of thiol groups to double bonds). This parameter modification enables the rubber to undergo controlled depolymerization at lower temperatures, achieving high-quality reproduction with reduced energy consumption compared to conventional recycling methods
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material structure by grafting thiol groups onto the polymer backbone of conjugated diene rubber. This composite structure combines the elasticity of rubber with the reactive functionality of thiol groups, enabling both high reproduction quality and energy efficiency through selective bond cleavage and reforming
2Strength
If conventional recycling processes are applied, then waste rubber is processed, but the mechanical properties of recycled rubber are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-grafting thiol groups onto the rubber polymer during the recycling process setup. This preliminary chemical modification enables subsequent easy processing through simple heating or catalyst addition, which triggers controlled depolymerization and re-polymerization to restore mechanical properties without complex processing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The thiol groups serve as intermediary functional groups that mediate between the original rubber polymer and the recycled product. These intermediaries facilitate controlled chain scission and reformation, enabling restoration of mechanical strength while simplifying the overall manufacturing process through a single-step depolymerization-repolymerization cycle
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional depolymerization methods are used, then rubber can be broken down, but the applicability of depolymerized rubber is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by creating a depolymerization system that can process multiple types of conjugated diene rubber (polybutadiene, polyisoprene, copolymers) using the same thiol group chemistry. The method produces consistent, high-quality recycled rubber with restored mechanical properties applicable to various rubber products, enhancing both adaptability and reliability across different rubber types and applications
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 depolymerizer effectively reduces energy consumption, enhances the quality of recycled rubber, and improves its mechanical properties, achieving up to 50% of the mechanical strength of fresh rubber, while maintaining a certain degree of usability for further processing.
Implementation Method 1
grafting thiol groups on parts of double bonds of a polymer of a linear conjugated diene monomer
Data Source
AI summary
A depolymerizer is formed by grafting thiol groups on parts of the double bonds of a polymer of linear conjugated diene monomer. The linear conjugated diene monomer can be 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, 1,3-pentadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-methyl-1,3-pentadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-pentadiene, 2-phenyl-1,3-butadiene, or 4,5-diethyl-1,3-octadiene. The depolymerizer has a weight average molecular weight of 1000 to 400000.