Quantification of elastomers in CR/NR/BR blends

Abstract Using ternary blends is a technological solution to combine the best characteristics of different elastomers. Quantifying rubbers in a blend, in which each content influences the result, is a task complex and usually requires the coupling of techniques. Therefore, it is necessary to develop simple, fast and accurate methodologies for this purpose. This study presents the analysis of polychloroprene, poly-cis-isoprene and polybutadiene (CR/NR/BR) rubber, with the selection of bands A1116 (CR), A2960 (NR) and A738 (BR), by universal attenuated total reflection (UATR) infrared spectroscopy performed on the sample as received. The error found was 2%, with 98 to 99% of the data explained by the methodology. The methodology responds more adequately to CR and BR cis, but has the ability to detect up to 5% of NR and 10% of CR and BR. Acid-resistance data are used quantitatively in the determination of BR rubber, satisfactorily confirming the spectral data found.