A general scheme of a rubber structure is proposed. Using the thermomechanical method(TMA), some changes in the molecular and topological structures for uncured and cured, and unfilled and filled rubbers during processing are shown. In our investigations as region it is understood a complex structure, which is expressed at the thermomechanical curve(TMC) as a zone differed from others in thermal expansion properties. This zone is between the noticed temperatures of relaxation transitions, usually on the level like those determined by DMTA at 1Hz. These regions, which shares, are not stable, and differ in molecular-weight distribution(MWD) of chain fragments between the junctions. Differences in dynamics of the formation of the molecular and topological structures of a vulcanizate are dependent on the rubber formulation, mixing technology and curing time. Some of characteristics of these regions correlate with mechanical properties of vulcanizates what is shown for NR rubbers containing ENR or CPE as a polymeric additive. It is well known that the state of order influences diffusivity of low-molecular substances into the polymer matrix. Because of this, the two topological amorphous regions should influence the distribution of the ingredients and resulting in rubber compounds' heterogeneity, and related properties of cured rubber. Investigation of this problem is expected to be, in the future, one of the essential factors in determining further improvement of polymeric materials properties by compounding with additives and in reprocessing of rubber scrap.
The authors thank the Poznan University of Technology (Grant 25-118/DS/02) for financial support. We also thank Dr. Y. A. Olkhov from Institute of the Problems of Chemical Physics in Chernogolovka for TMA measurements and Dr. J. Haponiuk from Gdansk University of Technology for DMTA tests.