Question

Methyl rubber, polymerized Dimethylbutadiene, is the first synthetic rubber, but it falls behind polyisoprene having inferior shear strength & oxidizes more easily.

I'm looking into the isomeric composition of these methyl rubber products. Particularly, I'm looking into varieties mostly composed of isomers cis-1,4 & trans-1,4. Typically, ones that have been polymerized with Anionic Chain Polymerization. Have the physical properties of these varieties more of cis-1,4 & trans-1,4 been characterized?

Answer 1

The physical properties of methyl rubber, or polybutadiene, containing cis-1,4 and trans-1,4 isomers have been explored, with different isomeric compositions providing specific benefits like increased elasticity or hardness.

Step-by-step explanation:

The physical properties of methyl rubber, specifically polybutadiene varieties mostly composed of cis-1,4 and trans-1,4 isomers, have been characterized to a certain extent. Polybutadiene is used significantly in industries due to its high resistance to wear, exemplified in the production of tires and as an additive in plastics to enhance toughness.

The physical properties differ based on the isomeric composition, with the cis-1,4 isomer contributing to greater elasticity and resilience, key for applications where flexibility and durability are crucial, such as in tires, which consume about 70% of the production.

On the other hand, the trans-1,4 isomer tends to contribute to increased hardness and lower temperature performance. Synthetic rubbers like polybutadiene are generally used more extensively than natural rubber due to their superior resilience, ability to mix with other polymers, and consistent quality.

Varieties polymerized via Anionic Chain Polymerization are tailored to achieve desired properties for specific industrial applications.