PHOSPHORUS MODIFICATION OF EPOXIDIZED LIQUID NATURAL-RUBBER TO IMPROVE FLAME RESISTANCE OF VULCANIZED RUBBERS

The use of phosphorus for improving flame retardancy of natural rubber vulcanizates was attempted by incorporating a modified form of natural rubber. By reacting epoxidized liquid natural rubber (ELNR) with dibutylphosphate it was possible to chemically modify the polymer. On a 25% epoxidized LNR, 5.2-6.8% w/w of phosphorus could be fixed on the polymer backbone. The reaction carried out in bulk and solution resulted in products with different T(g) values probably due to the varying crosslink levels in the resultant products. Chemical analysis of the modified polymers prepared by two sets of reactions under identical conditions proved the reproducibility of the reactions in bulk and in solution. Incorporation of the phosphorus-modified ELNR in a natural rubber formulation decreased the flammability behaviors of the vulcanizate. On the other hand, a decrease of the rate of curing and mechanical properties was observed. The phosphorus addition could also be carried out by mixing ELNR and dibutylphosphate at the time of mixing the compounds and resulted in equally good flame retardance with relatively better processing and mechanical properties. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.