KINETIC MODEL FOR THERMAL DEHYDROCHLORINATION OF CHLORINATED NATURAL RUBBER WITH DIFFERENT CHLORINE CONTENT

ABSTRACT A novel model for calculating dehydrochlorination kinetics at a lower temperature of chlorinated natural rubber (CNR) is presented. It has been observed that dehydrochlorination is complex and involves three different stages. A model that accounts for dehydrochlorination at lower temperature is proposed. The kinetic parameters are obtained from dehydrochlorination experiments at 60–90 °C. The results of the kinetic calculation show that the apparent activation energy decreases with an increment of chlorine content. Higher chlorine content CNR makes it easier to remove hydrochloric acid when heated, but its dehydrochlorination rate affected by temperature is significantly less than that of the sample with a lower chlorine content. The thermogravimetric/derivative thermogravimetry results show that the beginning temperature of thermo-oxidative degradation rises with the increment of chlorine content. During the heating process, the higher chlorine content CNR is more stable than the lower one. The results suggest the storage conditions and basis for selection of appropriate temperature for the preparation of CNR from latex.