Novel elastomers

加氢是聚合物化学改性的重要方法。丁腈橡胶（NBR）中不饱和烯基的选择性加氢是一种成功的工业化生产方法。工业上生产的不饱和聚合物加氢方法大多采用溶液加氢法，这不仅引起了环境问题，而且增加了生产成本。因此，非常希望直接将不饱和聚合物以胶乳形式分散，因为这样的方法将避免冗长的氢化步骤，从而消除对大量有毒有机溶剂的需要。然而，存在阻碍催化胶乳氢化方法商业化的若干挑战。该项目的目的是通过最先进的纳米胶乳加氢工艺解决当前实验室技术和工业生产之间遇到的困境，并开发一种生产氢化丁腈橡胶（HNBR）胶乳的新技术路线，并可能达到中试规模或全工业规模。Nanolatex-to-Hydrogenation是一种面向工艺开发的工艺，通过为行业合作伙伴整合变革性纳米技术。首先，纳米胶乳加氢是一种环境友好和节能的工艺。纳米胶乳加氢技术将导致纳米技术的变革能力，以建立一条独特的路线，提供新的特殊聚合物胶乳纳米颗粒和聚合物分离固体，具有定制和可调的性能。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，这项建议将大大有利于加拿大学术界开发新的材料和方法，使科学界能够适应迅速发展的相关研究领域。

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.