What catalysts are used to when making synthetic rubber in polymerisation reactions?
I hope this helps and is not too complex (degree level organic chemistry). I have looked at butyl rubber. Butyl rubber is an example of cationic polymerisation. Cationic polymerisation is initiated by acids. Isobutylene, for example, undergoes cationic polymerisation to a tacky material used in adhesives. Copolymerisation with a little isoprene gives butyl rubber, this is used to make tyre inner tubes and tyre liners. a variety of acids can be used: sulphuric acid, AlCl3 or BF3 plus a trace of water. The only info I can find in my texts and notes about styrene-butadiene rubber is about the history of it. I have given you a brief synopsis of this below: In 1956, Michael Szwarc (University of New York at Syracuse) reported the following observations. When a sample of styrene was treated with a sodium naphthalene initiator, rapid polymerisation took place and was completed within a few seconds. When more styrene was added, it, too, underwent polymerisation; viscosity measurements showed t
