Frontier9
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BUTYL RUBBER from CAULK
All of the so called BUTYL RUBBER (POLYISOBUTYLENE) caulks that are available at hardware stores actually have a BUTYL
RUBBER content of less than 40% by mass. The most prevalent chemical in these caulks is Calcium Carbonate (Approx.: 58%), additionally these
caulks contain Mineral Spirits (Approx.: 5%). Is there a not-so-sophisticated method of seperating and extracting the BUTYL RUBBER
from these caulks?
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DeAdFX
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Yeah... Add enough hydrochloric acid to convert the calcium carbonate into calcium chloride. Dissolve all of the calcium chloride using water. Then
filter out the butyl rubber. I assume that is all that needs to be done. I don't think the HCL should destroy the rubber.
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kclo4
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if i may ask, what is so great about butyl rubber and why do you want it?
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The_Davster
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It is a binder. I believe the one used in c-4 plastique.
Anyway, I would like to add to DeAdFX's post, do do all of the procedure in a blender on 'puree'. Otherwise the caulk and butyl rubber wont react
quick at all.
So add caulk to a HCl solution in a blender, let blend for a while, and then filter out the butyl rubber.
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Ramiel
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Yea right, and just how resistant is the interior of the blender going to be to [possibly] concentrated HCl... you'll want an excess of HCl anyway, so
just add small amounts of "caulking glue" to HCl in a beaker or similar, letting it react before adding more.
Caveat Orator
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Twospoons
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It might be better to go the opposite direction and thin the whole lot with a solvent ( ordinary paint thinner?), let the carbonate settle out, decant
off the solvent/isobutylene, then evaporate the solvent - leaving the isobutylene. I've done exactly that with some of the white goop plugging the
end of a drainpipe under my kitchen sink. I used white gas (mostly hexane) as the solvent.
I think you'll have a devil of a time getting any aqueous reactions going - the stuff is made to be waterproof!
[Edited on 16-8-2006 by Twospoons]
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Frontier9
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In response to kclo4, as rogue chemist states, Butyl Rubber may be used as a binder. Among other uses, it may be used as the binder in a solid rocket
propellant grain.
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12AX7
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Don't forget about rather inert TiO2, and that most blenders have a stainless steel blade -- you'll get a nice green soup and leakage, and not much
pureed caulk.
Tim
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The_Davster
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ramiel
Yea right, and just how resistant is the interior of the blender going to be to [possibly] concentrated HCl... you'll want an excess of HCl anyway, so
just add small amounts of "caulking glue" to HCl in a beaker or similar, letting it react before adding more. |
Most blenders have a glass body, and stainless steel blades. Even with concentrated HCl(which is probably not needed) the blender would not suffer
problems.
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nitro-genes
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Most caulking compounds contain curing or crosslinking agents, I'm afraid the butyl rubber version will not be an exception. Crosslinked rubbers do
not dissolve anymore in solvents but will only swell at most. For an adhesive these are good properties of course, since it ensures a good chemical
and mechanical resistance as the caulk cures...
There simply aren't alot of applications for low molecular weight, uncrosslinked rubbers, other than chewing gum, blue tac and a few others. One
option than I haven't tried yet could be certain brands of those hotglue sticks. I have found in technical data sheets of some low melting temperature
types that they contain mainly polyisobutylene and and a polyisobutylene/polyethylene copolymer. Since hotglue is remeltable after it cures it is
likely that they contain no crosslinking agents...
[Edited on 17-8-2006 by nitro-genes]
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unionised
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Very few things rot stainless steel as quickly as HCl does.
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Frontier9
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In response to nitro-genes, according to at least one manufacturer, the Butyl Rubber in sealants/caulks
is soluble in naphtha. The following is an excerpt from their literature: Butyl Rubber Sealants sold today, including
Red Devil Butyl Rubber Sealant will exhibit slight-to-severe solubility after a few hours in all grades of Naphtha; depending upon the extent of
exposure to the solvent.
Butyl Rubber Sealants are typically a Butyl Rubber Mastic (Butyl Rubber cut w/ a grade of Naphtha to something in the 50% to 75% total
non-volatile solids range), a mid-to-high molecular weight Polybutene, a solvent (typically a grade of Naphtha), some Titanium Dioxide (for white
products; & TiO2 also improves durability), w/ the balance in Calcium Carbonate Filler.
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quicksilver
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IS there a source for polyisobutylene wherein the material is freely available without extraction? I found a source for a great many polymers (in the
USA) but this one seems not to be used "as is". One time a fellow wrote that he had found same in a roofing coating. I did a search and found this
(simple Google "polyisobutylene, source") but no outlet provider. Anyone found it? If you want to maintain the source; I certainly can respect that
(please U2U me).
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bio2
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....IS there a source for polyisobutylene wherein the material is freely available without extraction?......
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