Traceability of Volatile Organic Compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Its Reduction in Rubber Composites of Tire Inner Liner

Many parts of the vehicle cabin generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and they are hazardous to humans. In this study, VOCs in the inner liner of automobile spare tire, and separately the significant materials used in it, like raw rubber and resins, were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with extracting method of static headspace sampling (SHS). By comparison, the sources of VOCs can be traced back to raw rubbers and resins. And the results indicated that alkylphenol resins are the most volatile raw materials, which would release 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene, and 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl-3-heptene. Secondly, chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR) contained 3-methyl-pentane and methyl-cyclopentane. At the same time, through replacements of raw materials in initial formulation, such as alkylphenol resins and natural rubber (NR) with low VOCs, the total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) discharged in inner liner could be reduced. We expected that the information gained from this work could provide references and positive significance for the manufacture of environmental-friendly tire products.