Branch House for Rubber and Vinyl Materials in Oświęcim
Research and Development profile of Rubber and Vinyl Plastics Division (Oświęcim)
Activity of the Research Unit that operates within the organizational framework of Cautchoucs and Vinyl Plastics Division focuses on technological and analytical investigations.
Working on Technology
Synthetic cautchoucs and latexes
Experimental work is aimed at development of new type of latexes and rubber and on additives used in manufacturing process of newly developed products.
We work on specialist equipment for laboratory and fractional-technical scale syntheses as well as on equipment that allows us to produce samples of new latexes and rubber for laboratory attestation.
Our activity focuses on:
- synthesis of carboxylated butadiene-acrylonitrile latexes (XNBR),
- synthesis of butadiene-metacrylate latexes,
- synthesis of modified butadiene-styrene latexes eg. multicomponent ones,
- manufacture of compositions of latexes for various purposes based both on production and novel types of latexes,
- manufacture of nitrile rubber (NBR) modified with PVC,
- manufacture of powder nitrile rubber,
- manufacture of composites based on butadiene-styrene latexes with increased wear resistance,
- synthesis of polymeric emulsifiers and synthetic coagulants.
Vinyl Plastics
Our Research Unit investigates technology of vinyl polymers and copolymers, in particular of:
- styrene,
- vinyl acetate,
- methyl metacrylate,
- other alkyl esters of methacrylic and acrylic acid polymers and copolymers.
Prior to experimental work literature studies covering wide range of data is carried out.
We use a comprehensive approach in our work - from laboratory experiments to tests in experimental-manufacturing assemblies, to provide the market with the most important physicochemicaland mechanical properties of the polymers.
We elaborate comprehensive technological descriptions, necessary during the design stage or for modernization processes of manufacturing assemblies.
The most recent research activity focuses on:
- manufacturing technology of a range of vinyl copolymers water dispersions, expected to be used by the paint or textile and other industries as film-forming and polymeric binding agents, as well as solutions of vinyl copolymers in organic solvents,
- manufacturing technology of styrene (PS, EPS, ABS) polymers and copolymers.
Our investigations are carried out by a team of experienced professionals.
Analytical Activity
Analytical activity of a Research Unit of Cautchoucs and Vinyl Plastics Division focuses on analysis of various samples and on development of analytical methods for special purposes. The main areas of our interests are:
- water dispersions of polymers,
- cautchouc latexes,
- waterborne polymers,
- vinyl plastics.
Analyses of those substances are performed on modern analytical equipment, and cover:
- Gas Chromatography (GC),
- Pyrolytic Gas Chromatography (Py-GC),
- thermal analysis (DSC, TG),
- Polymer Molar Mass Distribution (GPC),
- analysis of physio-mechanical properties of plastics,
- water dispersions particle size distribution,
- spectrophotometry IR and UV-VIS,
- ageing tests (XENOTEST).
Assessments of such properties of dispersions and latexes as:
- standard properties: pH, viscosity (various methods), solid content, content of free monomers, surface tension,
- special properties: particle size distribution and their electrokinetic potential, film formation temperature, resistance of an adhesive-bonded joint; full range of properties of polymer films of dried dispersions or latexes: resistance characteristics, particle mass distribution and their average values, thermal or IR analyses.
Moreover our Research Unit carries out analyses of additives used in polymerization process or in modification of vinyl plastics and commodity vinyl plastics.
