Synthesis of hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber by oxidative deproteinized natural rubber

Abstract

Hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber (HTLNR) was prepared by the depolymerizatioQ of deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) in mixture of toluene and water at 60 °c for 24 hours in the presence of ammonium persulfate as an initiator and tehahydrofuran (THF) as a homogenizing agent. GPC analysis revealed that the number-average molecular weight (M„) and weight-average molecular wei^t (M„.) of HTLNR were found to be 4.334x10° g/moi and 11.702x10^ g/mol. respectively, with polydispersity index (PDI) of 2.7. The chemical structure of HTLNR was determined by FTIR and 'H-NMR and '^C-NMR spectroscopic analysis. Based on the analytical data the mechanism of depolymerization and hydroxylation of NR to form HTNR was also suggested.