Synthesizing "Natural" Rubber
Chemical & Engineering News · 1955
A ZIEGLER-TYPE CATALYST has been successfully used by Goodyear Research chemists in making a synthetic polyisoprene having a molecular structure very similar to that of Hevea natural rubber, according to Ray P. Dinsmore, vice president in charge of research and development. Dinsmore's announcement was made shortly before the Nov. 2 to 4 meeting of the ACS Rubber Division, at which he is to deliver the Goodyear medalist address. The catalyst system used is a solid surface type similar to that which has been developed primarily for polyethylene. A quite rapid solution or bulk polymerization of very pure isoprene monomer is apparently attained with little difficulty. Dinsmore gives the following details: "Our research scientists find that a catalyst system similar to one publicized in the latter half of 1954 by Karl Ziegler of the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research in Germany produces a nearly all cis 1,4 polyisoprene. The infrared spectrum is very different in ...