Mechanodestruction of Isoprene Rubber. Part 1. Process Kinetics

A method is proposed that allows us to obtain the values of the rate constants (CR) of the processes of mechanodestruction (mechanical cracking) of kм, oxidative destruction of kо, and recombination of kр macromolecules, as well as the mass fractions of the corresponding fractions of φм, φо, and φр,r involved in the plasticization process (P) of SKI-3 isoprene rubber. The method is based on the selection of the values of these parameters that correspond to the previously obtained experimental data, using the previously obtained recurrent equations and a specially developed program. The dependences of the CR on the time P at 30oC are obtained, which allows us to describe the kinetics of the processes accompanying P at this temperature, and the changes in molecular mass (MM) in this process. It is shown that constant values of CR are established at large times of P. Refined explanations of the nature of the kinetics of the CR change at P are proposed. The MM value of SKI-3 macromolecules that have not undergone destruction is calculated, depending on the time of plasticization.