Reclaimed Rubber/Poly(ε-caprolactone) Blends: Structure, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Sustainable Engineering

Background:

• Global increase in elastomeric waste, particularly from tires, necessitates effective recycling solutions.
• Compounding waste rubbers with other polymers offers a viable reuse pathway, but compatibility issues must be addressed.
• Growing demand for biodegradable plastics highlights the need for environmentally friendly material alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of reclaimed rubber/poly(ε-caprolactone) (RR/PCL) blends for enhanced waste rubber recycling and upcycling.
• To improve the interfacial compatibility between waste rubber particles and a biodegradable polymer matrix.
• To evaluate the structural and mechanical properties of novel RR/PCL blends.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of reclaimed rubber/poly(ε-caprolactone) blends.
• Characterization using static and dynamic mechanical testing.
• Analysis of thermal properties via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
• Investigation of chemical structure and compatibility using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Main Results:

• RR/PCL blends demonstrate improved mechanical properties compared to reclaimed rubber alone.
• Enhanced interfacial compatibility between reclaimed rubber and poly(ε-caprolactone) was observed.
• The blends exhibit good thermal stability, suitable for various applications.
• FTIR analysis confirmed the interaction and compatibility between the blend components.

Conclusions:

• The proposed RR/PCL blends offer a promising approach for the upcycling of waste rubbers.
• Incorporating poly(ε-caprolactone) significantly enhances the processability and performance of reclaimed rubber materials.
• This study contributes to sustainable materials development by promoting the reuse of waste elastomers in advanced polymer composites.