Sayata Ghose and A. I. Isayev
Institute of Polymer Engineering
The University of Akron, Akron OH 44325-0301, USA
Substantial research using the
ultrasound technology for recycling thermosets has been carried out in our
laboratory. After the success met with polyurethane rubber using the coaxial
reactor, experiments were carried out using the newly developed grooved barrel
reactor in an effort to improve the efficiency of devulcanization. The current
paper compares processing characteristics like die pressure and ultrasonic
power consumption as well as gel fraction, crosslink density, dynamic and
mechanical properties. There
seems to be a significant difference in mechanical properties between the
samples obtained from the two reactors. It was found that the samples obtained
from the grooved barrel reactor showed a somewhat greater degree of degradation
and devulcanization when compared to the coaxial extruder.
Keywords: ultrasound, polyurethane rubber, devulcanization,
reactors