Self-plasticization of neoprene rubber via click chemistry from environmentally sustainable cardanol

The sustainable biomass cardanol grafting onto neoprene (CR) rubber was carried out successfully at room temperature by covalently binding to CR via click chemistry to realize the internal plasticization of CR rubber. The structure of the synthesized product was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrate a lowering of the glass transition temperature of the CR-propargyl ether cardanol as compared to CR. This confirms the plasticization effect of the cardanol when grafted onto CR. The cardanol as an internal plasticizer also has a good thermal stability and almost near-zero migration.