Pushing boundaries! - VESTENAMER® in Recycling Rubber Applications

Research at a glance

Recycling rubber is globally gaining traction in efforts towards a circular economy. Beside sustainability aspects, it is also increasingly recognized as a cost-efficient raw material in applications like modified asphalt, virgin rubber blends, and molded goods from ground tire rubber. However, its applicability is limited by performance gaps or processing challenges whenever it is compared to virgin rubber products or polymer materials. The rubber additive VESTENAMER® has proofed to be a valuable tool in overcoming these gaps. We will show latest examples of how trans-polyoctenamer transforms recycling rubber into a valuable resource by improving performance and processing of rubberized asphalt, rubber blends, and molded goods. Property Method (norm) Unit Value Molecular weight Mw GPC (acc. DIN 55672-1) g/mol 140.000 Glass transition temperature Tg DMA (ISO 6721-5) °C -67 Crystallinity @23°C DSC (ISO 11357) % ~ 30 Melting point (2nd heating) Tm DSC (ISO 11357) °C 54-56 Thermal decomposition TGA (ISO 11357) °C > 400 Double bonds cis/trans ratio IR (SOP 0188) % 20/80 Mooney viscosity @100°C ML (1+4) DIN 53523, ASTM D 1646 MU <10 MVR (190 °C, 2.16 kg load) ISO 1133 cm3/10min 20 Table 1 - Specification and properties of trans-polyoctenamer (VESTENAMER® 8012)