Hydrogenation and neutralization of carboxylic styrene-butadiene latex to form thermoplastic elastomer with excellent thermooxidation resistance

Hydrogenation of carboxylic styrene-butadiene rubber latex was carried out using hydrazine and hydrogen peroxide with ferrous sulfate as a catalyst without pressurized hydrogen and an organic solvent. A mixed inhibitor was used during hydrogenation to prevent gel formation. Various hydrogenation conditions were studied. Ferrous sulfate is better than is cupric sulfate as a catalyst. The hydrogenation degree can reach over 90%. The hydrogenated product was characterized by IR and DSC. The hydrogenated products behave as a thermoplastic elastomer with excellent thermooxidation resistance, due to the absence of most double bonds and the presence of crystalline domains of polyethylene segments formed by the hydrogenation of polybutadiene segments. Ionomers were obtained by neutralization of the hydrogenated product with metallic ions and characterized by IR, DSC, and TEM. The ionomers also behave as thermoplastic elastomers with mechanical properties better than those of the hydrogenated product without neutralization, due to the existence of ionic domains besides the crystalline domains. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1375-1384,2002.