Novel elastomers

加氢是聚合物化学改性的一个重要过程。丁腈橡胶（NBR）中不饱和烯烃基团的选择性加氢是一种成功的工业工艺。不饱和聚合物加氢的商业工艺大多采用溶液加氢，这不仅引起了环境问题，而且增加了生产成本。因此，直接将不饱和聚合物以乳胶形式氢化是非常可取的，因为这种方法可以避免繁琐的氢化步骤，从而消除对大量有毒有机溶剂的需要。然而，催化胶乳加氢工艺的商业化还面临着一些挑战。该项目的目标是解决当前实验室技术和工业生产之间的困境，通过最先进的纳米橡胶加氢工艺，从而开发出一种生产氢化丁腈橡胶（HNBR）乳胶的新技术路线，并有可能达到中试工厂规模或完全工业规模。Nanolatex-to-Hydrogenation是一个面向工艺开发的过程，通过整合行业合作伙伴的变革性纳米技术。首先，纳米乳液加氢是一种环保和节能的过程。纳米乳液加氢技术将引领纳米技术的变革能力，为提供具有定制和可调性能的新型特殊聚合物乳胶纳米颗粒和聚合物分离固体建立一条独特的途径。因此，该项目将为我们参与的工业伙伴和加拿大提供特殊的利益。此外，该提案将大大有利于加拿大学术界在开发新的材料和方法方面，科学界可以在相关的快速发展的研究领域进行适应。

Hydrogenation constitutes an important process for the chemical modification of polymers. The selective hydrogenation of the unsaturated olefinic groups in nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) is such a successful commercial process in industry. The commercial process for the hydrogenation of unsaturated polymers is mostly employing the solution hydrogenation, which not only raises environmental concerns but increases the cost of production. It is therefore very desirable to directly hydrogenate the unsaturated polymers in latex form as such a process would avoid the tedious hydrogenation steps and thereby eliminate the need of large amounts of toxic organic solvent. However, there are several challenges which are preventing the commercialization of catalytic latex hydrogenation process. The objective of this proposed project is to solve the dilemma encountered between the current lab technology and industrial production by a state-of-the-art Nanolatex-to-Hydrogenation process and thereof to develop a novel technical route for the production of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) latex and potentially up to a pilot plant scale or a full industrial scale. Nanolatex-to-Hydrogenation is a process-development oriented process by integrating the transformative nanotechnology for industry partners. Nanolatex-to-Hydrogenation in the first place is an environmentally benign and an energy efficient process. Nanolatex-to-Hydrogenation technique will lead to the transformative ability of nanotechnology to establish a unique route to provide new special polymer latex nanoparticles and polymer isolated solids with tailor-made and tunable properties. Thus, this project will provide exceptional benefits to our participating industrial partner and to Canada. In addition, this proposal will significantly benefit the academic circles in Canada in terms of developing new materials and methodologies that the scientific community can adapt in related rapidly growing research areas.