The role of Соllagen Hydrolysate as a Biomodifier in the Formation of the Vulcanization Structure of Butadiene-Nitrile Rubber-Based Rubbers

Abstract

This study investigates the use of fish industry waste from northern regions, namely swim bladders of northern fish, as a feedstock for producing collagen hydrolyzate (CH) used as a naturally derived modifier for eco-friendly rubber compounds based on butadiene-nitrile rubber. The hydrolysis was carried out according to the technology developed at M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University and disclosed in Russian Federation Patent No. 2824997.

The physicochemical properties of the collagen hydrolyzate were examined, including molecular weight, textural characteristics (specific surface area, zeta potential, and pore volume). Model experiments were conducted to establish the interaction of the collagen hydrolyzate with the vulcanizing group (mercaptobenzothiazole, sulfur, zinc oxide) of the rubber compound. Mixtures of the ingredients comprising the vulcanizing system and the modifier were investigated by infrared spectroscopy using an i-Red 7800u-L spectrometer in the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode.

To confirm the effect of amino acids present in the CH composition on the sulfur vulcanization process, rubber samples based on butadiene-nitrile rubber were prepared according to a standard formulation with the addition of individual amino acids. The vulcanization kinetics of the resulting rubber compounds were studied in accordance with GOST 54547–2011 using a D-RPA 3000 instrument.

It was shown that certain amino acids present in the CH composition accelerate sulfur vulcanization, which confirms the participation of the modifier in the vulcanization process of rubbers. For rubber compounds containing amino acids such as tyrosine, valine, glycine, and methionine, the time to reach the vulcanization optimum is reduced by 30–50%, while the vulcanization rate increases by 27–40% compared to the control rubber compound containing no amino acids.