These changes not only affect the appearance of the rubber product, but more importantly, they will weaken their functionality and thus shorten their service life.

Oxygen - the "number one killer" of rubber aging

Oxygen is the main "culprit" among many factors that cause rubber aging. When the rubber is exposed to air, oxygen will oxidize with double bonds or other active groups in the rubber molecule to form peroxides and other free radicals. These free radicals further trigger chain reactions, destroying the molecular structure of the rubber, and eventually leading to a comprehensive decline in rubber properties.

For example, in high temperature environments, rubber molecules are more likely to bind to oxygen, forming more free radicals, and accelerating the aging process. This is one of the reasons why car tires crack after driving for a long time.

BASF Antioxidants: "Shield" against aging

To resist the corrosion of oxygen on rubber, scientists invented antioxidants. As a world-leading chemical company, BASF has developed a series of antioxidants products that it has become an indispensable part of the rubber industry. The main function of antioxidants is to capture and neutralize free radicals, thereby preventing the oxidation reaction from continuing. In other words, antioxidants are like a solid "shield" that provides strong protection for rubber.

The working mechanism of antioxidants

Antioxidants delay rubber aging through the following two main mechanisms:

1. Free Radical Capture: Antioxidants can quickly capture free radicals in rubber molecules and convert them into stable compounds, thereby interrupting the chain propagation of the oxidation reaction.
2. Metal ion passivation: Some antioxidants can also inhibit the catalytic effect of metal ions on the oxidation reaction and further reduce the generation of free radicals.

For example, BASF's Irganox series of antioxidants are highly efficient antioxidant additives designed based on the above principles, which can provide long-lasting protection during rubber processing and use.

The types and characteristics of BASF antioxidants

In the rubber industry, BASF antioxidants are known for their diversity and efficiency, and can meet the needs of different application scenarios. According to their chemical properties and mechanism of action, BASF antioxidants can be roughly divided into the following categories:

Phenol antioxidants: the "main force" of the rubber industry

Phenol antioxidants are a common category in the BASF family of antioxidants and are especially suitable for rubber products that require long-term stability. This type of antioxidant has high thermal stability and antioxidant ability, and can effectively inhibit the formation of free radicals under high temperature conditions.

• Representative Products: Irganox 1010, Irganox 1076
• Working principle: Capture free radicals through hydrogen atom transfer mechanism and terminate the oxidation chain reaction.
• Pros:
  • Excellent thermal stability, suitable for high-temperature processing conditions.
  • Not easy to evaporate and can continue to play a role throughout the life cycle of rubber products.
  • The physical properties of rubber have little impact and will not cause obvious softening or hardening.

For example, in automotive tire manufacturing, phenolic antioxidants are widely used to improve tire durability and tear resistance, so that they can maintain good condition under harsh road conditions.

Phosphate antioxidants: "Experts" to resist yellowing

For some rubber products with high appearance requirements, such as medical equipment or food packaging materials, phosphate antioxidants are ideal. This type of antioxidant not only effectively delays aging, but also prevents the rubber from yellowing in light or high temperatures.

• Representative Products: Irgafos 168, Irgafos PEP-Q
• Working principle: By combining with free radicals, a stable phosphorus-oxygen bond is interrupted, the oxidation reaction is interrupted.
• Pros:
  • Significantly improves the anti-yellowing properties of rubber.
  • It is better when used in combination with phenolic antioxidants.
  • For rubberThere was no significant negative impact on processing performance.

For example, in the field of medical devices, phosphate antioxidants are used to produce silicone tubes with high transparency, ensuring that they remain as white as new during long-term use.

Thiodipropionate antioxidants: "Experts" in anti-fatigue

Thiodipropionate antioxidants are well known for their excellent anti-fatigue properties and are particularly suitable for use in rubber products under dynamic loads. This type of antioxidant can effectively reduce molecular chain breaks caused by repeated stress, thereby extending the service life of the product.

• Representative Products: DSTDP (dilauryl thiodipropionate)
• Working principle: The reaction of sulfur atoms with free radicals can generate stable thiol compounds.
• Pros:
  • Significantly improves the fatigue resistance of rubber.
  • It has good synergistic effect with the vulcanization system.
  • The price is relatively low and the cost-effectiveness is high.

For example, in power transmission systems, thiodipropionate antioxidants are widely used to make high-performance belts and gears, ensuring that they are reliable and durable under high-strength operation.

Compound antioxidant: All-rounder

With the development of technology, composite antioxidants have gradually become the new darling of the rubber industry. This type of antioxidant fully utilizes its respective advantages by reasonably combining phenols, phosphorus and sulfur antioxidants to provide all-round protection for rubber products.

• Representative Products: Irganox B215, Irganox B225
• Working principle: Comprehensively utilize different mechanisms of action of multiple antioxidants to achieve synergistic effects.
• Pros:
  • Providing excellent antioxidant properties.
  • Strong adaptability, suitable for a variety of rubber formulas.
  • Easy to use, can be added directly to the rubber mixture.

For example, in the aerospace field, composite antioxidants are used to manufacture high-performance seals and insulation materials to ensure that they still perform well in extreme environments.

Analysis of application cases of BASF antioxidants

The wide application of BASF antioxidants in the rubber industry not only reflects its powerful functions, but also demonstrates its great value in actual production. The following are some specific case analysis, we canA more intuitive understanding of how BASF antioxidants can help improve the life and performance of rubber products.

Case 1: Improved durability of car tires

As a typical representative of rubber products, automobile tires directly affect driving safety and comfort. During the tire manufacturing process, adding an appropriate amount of BASF antioxidant can significantly improve its durability and anti-aging properties.

Experimental comparison

From the experimental data, it can be seen that after adding BASF antioxidants, the tensile strength and elongation of the tire have significantly improved, especially in terms of heat resistance to aging. This means that the service life of the tires in high temperature environments has been greatly extended.

Case 2: Anti-yellowing properties of medical silicone tubes

Medical silicone tubes have been widely used in the medical field due to their excellent biocompatibility and flexibility. However, silicone tubes are prone to yellowing during long-term use, affecting their appearance and performance. This problem can be effectively solved by adding BASF phosphate antioxidants.

Experimental results

ExperimentIt shows that after the addition of Irgafos 168, the color grade of the silicone tube was almost unchanged and the tensile strength retention rate was significantly improved, proving its superior properties in anti-yellowing and anti-oxidation.

Case 3: Fatigue resistance of industrial conveyor belts

Industrial conveyor belts will be repeatedly stretched and compressed during long-term operation, which is prone to fatigue cracking. By using BASF thiodipropionate antioxidants, its anti-fatigue properties can be significantly improved.

Experimental Data

The experimental results show that after the addition of DSTDP, the number of cycles of the conveyor belt increased by nearly two times, the degree of surface cracking was greatly reduced, and the dynamic modulus retention rate was also significantly improved, which fully proved its outstanding performance in fatigue resistance.

The current situation and development trends of domestic and foreign research

The application of BASF antioxidants in the rubber industry has achieved remarkable results, but scientists have not stopped there. In recent years, research on antioxidants at home and abroad has been deepening, aiming to develop new and more efficient and environmentally friendly antioxidants to meet the growing market demand.

Progress in foreign research

In the United States and Europe, researchers are actively exploring the application potential of nanoscale antioxidants. Research shows that nano-scale antioxidants can be evenly distributed within the rubber due to their extremely small particle size and huge specific surface area, thereby providing more efficient antioxidant protection.

For example, a study by the American Institute of Rubber and Plastics shows that the use of nanoscale Irganox 1010 instead of traditional granular antioxidants can extend the aging resistance of rubber products by more than 30%. In addition, Germany's Bayer is also developing a new antioxidant based on biodegradable materials, aiming to reduce the impact on the environment.

Domestic research trends

in the country, scientific research teams from universities such as Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University are also actively carrying out antioxidant-related research. Among them, the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University proposed a concept of "intelligent" antioxidant, that is, antioxidants can automatically adjust their antioxidant ability according to changes in the environment in which the rubber is located.

For example, in low temperature environments, antioxidants will enhance their activity, while in high temperature environments, the activity will be appropriately reduced to avoid excessive consumption. This smart antioxidant is expected to be widely used in the future, further promoting technological progress in the rubber industry.

Future development trends

Looking forward, the research and development of BASF antioxidants will develop in the following directions:

1. Green and Environmental Protection: Develop more antioxidants based on renewable resources to reduce dependence on petroleum-based raw materials.
2. Multifunctionalization: Combining antioxidants with other functional additives to achieve multiple protective effects.
3. Intelligent: Using modern sensing technology and artificial intelligence algorithms, we develop intelligent antioxidants that can monitor and adjust antioxidant performance in real time.

The emergence of these new technologies and new materials will bring revolutionary changes to the rubber industry, bringing the life and performance of rubber products to a new level.

Conclusion: The value and significance of BASF antioxidants

The application of BASF antioxidants in the rubber industry is not only a technological innovation, but also a pursuit of quality and responsibility. It increases the service life and reliability of rubber products by delaying the aging process of rubber, thus bringing tangible benefits to all industries.

Imagine that without BASF antioxidants, our car tires might have cracks in just a few months, conveyor belts might not be able to withstand long-term operation, and medical silicone tubes might lose trust due to yellowing. It is precisely because of the existence of BASF antioxidants that these rubber products can maintain good performance under various harsh conditions and provide guarantees for our lives.

In short, BASF antioxidants are not only the "guardian saint" of the rubber industry, but also an important force in promoting scientific and technological progress and social development. Let us look forward to the birth of more innovative achievements in the future and witness a bright future for the rubber industry together!