Investigation of the morphology of blends of polyethylene with grond tire rubber devulcanized by microwaves

• Grant number: 05/01710-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2005
• End date: January 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Henrique Scuracchio
• Grantee: Matheus Prado Curti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química de Lorena (FAENQUIL). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project is focused on the study of the morphology and mechanical properties of blends of high density polyethylene with ground tire rubber devulcanized by microwaves. The objective of the incorporation of the rubber to the thermoplastic is to obtain mechanical properties similar to the commercial materials named vulcanized thermoplastics, TPV. This project is part of a larger one, financed by FAPESP, of the type "Jovem Pesquisador em Centro Emergente", process number 10/08175-2, which has the objective to study the process of microwaves devulcanization of several kinds of rubber and its further addition to thermoplastics. It will be used a batch process to devulcanization of the rubber. This process has been investigated in details by the research group and the properties of the processed material is already well known. The knowledge of the rheological properties of the devulcanized rubber allows us to choose the best devulcanization conditions in order to obtain the desired morphology of the blend. It is known that the blends HDPE/tire rubber are imiscible, generating a two phase material. The blend morphology will be determining on the mechanical properties of the blend e it will be the focus of the research project. (AU)