Oligomeric Curing Activators Enable Conventional Sulfur-Vulcanized Rubbers to Self-Heal

When introducing self-healing properties to elastomers, it is often difficult balance their ability recover after damage with a good mechanical strength prior damage. We demonstrate that by replacing the activator system used in conventional accelerated vulcanization (CV) chemistry, from traditional zinc oxide (ZnO) and stearic acid complex formed between ω-propenyl functional oligomers of poly(zinc methacrylate) (pZnMA/ZnO), vulcanized natural rubbers are enhanced while maintaining tensile strengths. The pZnMA oligomers, as synthesized catalytic chain transfer polymerization (CCTP), act an for sulfur curing system, also forming ionic network rubber. addition 20 phr pZnMA/ZnO CV resulted cured rubber 7.47 ± 0.64 MPa, which recovered 86.7% at 80 °C 2 h. Further 40 carbon black N234 unexpectedly efficiency these 92.2% under same conditions improved room temperature. Finally, dynamic thermal analysis indicated formulations containing showed wet traction but higher rolling resistance standard formulation. These results point interesting direction further research into performance composites vehicle tire applications.