Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MD

Pyrolysis is one of the effective methods for recycling waste tire rubber, and there are fewer studies on the simulation and mechanism of pyrolysis of multi-component mixed rubber. This study employs reactive force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulations to analyze the pyrolysis product evo...

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Main Authors: Xiaohua Li, Weiming Liu, Junlong Wang, Shanshan Shao, Weiliang Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Budapest University of Technology and Economics 2025-06-01
Series:eXPRESS Polymer Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.expresspolymlett.com/article.php?a=EPL-0013268
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author Xiaohua Li
Weiming Liu
Junlong Wang
Shanshan Shao
Weiliang Ding
author_facet Xiaohua Li
Weiming Liu
Junlong Wang
Shanshan Shao
Weiliang Ding
author_sort Xiaohua Li
collection DOAJ
description Pyrolysis is one of the effective methods for recycling waste tire rubber, and there are fewer studies on the simulation and mechanism of pyrolysis of multi-component mixed rubber. This study employs reactive force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulations to analyze the pyrolysis product evolution processes of natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and mixed rubber (NR/SBR). The results show that with increasing temperature, the gas yield of NR/SBR increases from 16.32% at 2000 K to 37.01% at 3000 K, and the molecular numbers of gas products such as H2 and small-molecule hydrocarbons increase with temperature. The co-pyrolysis of NR/SBR accelerates solid rubber pyrolysis time and promotes the formation of main gas products (excluding C4H6). Using simulation results, the reaction pathways of pyrolysis intermediates were analyzed: the main intermediates of NR are isoprene monomers and C10H16• short-chain radicals, while those of SBR are styrene and butadiene. The bond cleavage mechanisms of intermediates were compared through reaction energy barrier calculations. This study systematically reveals the pyrolysis product characteristics and reaction mechanisms of rubbers, providing theoretical support for the selective pyrolysis recycling of various waste rubbers.
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Budapest University of Technology and Economics
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series eXPRESS Polymer Letters
spelling doaj-art-2a3070e528e44ba9ab98fe406d2ed1f02025-08-20T02:38:26ZengBudapest University of Technology and EconomicseXPRESS Polymer Letters1788-618X2025-06-0119657859310.3144/expresspolymlett.2025.44Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MDXiaohua LiWeiming LiuJunlong WangShanshan ShaoWeiliang DingPyrolysis is one of the effective methods for recycling waste tire rubber, and there are fewer studies on the simulation and mechanism of pyrolysis of multi-component mixed rubber. This study employs reactive force field molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulations to analyze the pyrolysis product evolution processes of natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and mixed rubber (NR/SBR). The results show that with increasing temperature, the gas yield of NR/SBR increases from 16.32% at 2000 K to 37.01% at 3000 K, and the molecular numbers of gas products such as H2 and small-molecule hydrocarbons increase with temperature. The co-pyrolysis of NR/SBR accelerates solid rubber pyrolysis time and promotes the formation of main gas products (excluding C4H6). Using simulation results, the reaction pathways of pyrolysis intermediates were analyzed: the main intermediates of NR are isoprene monomers and C10H16• short-chain radicals, while those of SBR are styrene and butadiene. The bond cleavage mechanisms of intermediates were compared through reaction energy barrier calculations. This study systematically reveals the pyrolysis product characteristics and reaction mechanisms of rubbers, providing theoretical support for the selective pyrolysis recycling of various waste rubbers.https://www.expresspolymlett.com/article.php?a=EPL-0013268 pyrolysis analytical modeling dynamic testing polyolefins copolymers recycling
spellingShingle Xiaohua Li
Weiming Liu
Junlong Wang
Shanshan Shao
Weiliang Ding
Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MD
eXPRESS Polymer Letters
pyrolysis
analytical modeling
dynamic testing
polyolefins
copolymers
recycling
title Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MD
title_full Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MD
title_fullStr Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MD
title_full_unstemmed Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MD
title_short Simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber by ReaxFF-MD
title_sort simulation on pyrolysis behavior and reaction pathway of natural rubber and styrene butadiene rubber by reaxff md
topic pyrolysis
analytical modeling
dynamic testing
polyolefins
copolymers
recycling
url https://www.expresspolymlett.com/article.php?a=EPL-0013268
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