Abstract:

Nature rubber is national strategic resources and indispensable material for tire manufacturing. Nature rubber resources is extremely insufficient in China and is to the disadvantages of the national economics and security. Since cis-polyisoprene rubber, especially rare earth catalyzed polyisoprene rubber (Nd-IR), possesses similar molecular structure to that of natural rubber, Nd-IR can substitutes for natural rubber in a certain proportions. Therefore, development of Nd-IR production technology becomes extremely important.
Chang Chun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIAC, CAS) based on the key technologies in the research＆development field of Nd-IR，has made developed on highly active homogeneous rare earth-based catalyst system for isoprene polymerization, which possesses characteristics of highly active, highly cis-1,4 oriented, low cost and controllable molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Thereafter, with catalyst technology as the core, the advanced engineering and technologies on polymerization, coagulation and drying processes have been developed, symbolizing complete sets of industrial technology with Chinese intellectual property rights on Nd-IR production has been successfully developed. The current facility and production process possess characteristics of advanced quality ranking, largest capacity of the single production line and the lowest energy, monomer and solvent consumption as well among the facilities worldwide for Nd-IR production, demonstrating milestone achievement in developing complete sets of industrial technology for high performance, large varieties of synthetic rubber in China.
Considered by the Testing Center of China Rubber Industry Association, the results show that the Nd-IR of this work possesses identical or even superior mechanical and dynamical properties to the foreign products (SKI-5) level, rather closed to the properties of nature rubber. The cure rate and the natural rubber synchronization to solve problems at home and abroad Nd-IR than natural rubber lag, difficult to improve the rate of substitution of natural rubber, in TBR tire production, The 100 Nd-IR industrial products alternative natural rubber, without having to change the production formula and process, the indicators are in line with the actual production of the tire business requirements and the state's tire standards. For the first time in 100 Nd-IR industrial products instead of natural rubber successfully applied TBR tire. The tire trial success, not only greatly increase the self-sufficiency rate of China's strategic resources, but also lead to significant changes for our tire application technology, Nd-IR products applied R&D capability indicates that China has been among the world-class level.
Key words: rare earth catalyst, isoprene, cis-polyisoprene

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Biography:

Chenxi Bai, Ph.D. Professor
Research Center of High Performance Synthetic Rubber, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry 5625 Renmin Street, Changchun, 130022, China
Phone: (86)431-85262304
Fax:   (86)431-85262253
Email:  baicx@ciac.ac.cn

Education and Experience：
2011- Professor, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Changchun, China
2007-2009 Postdoctoral Researcher in Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Changchun, China
1999-2005 Ph.D. in Department of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
1995-1999 PetroChina Jilin Petrochemical Company, Jilin, China
1991-1995 B.S. in Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

Honors and Distinctions：
Hundred Talents Program, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2012)

Research Interests：
Lanthanide Complex: Design, Synthesis and Property; The whole set of technology for the synthetic rubber by using rare-earth-based catalysts process package.