Ruthenium-based catalyst for the preparation of high performance hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber by controlled latex hydrogenation

The ruthenium-based catalyst [1,3-bis(trimethylphenyl)-2-imidazolinylidene]·dichloro·(o-methoxybenzylidene) ruthenium was synthesized and used to prepare the latex of hydrogenated nitrile-butadiene rubber(HNBR). The selectivity and reactivity of catalyst, the gel content, curing characteristics, physical mechanical properties, heat resistant air aging and oil resistance of the HNBR have been studied in detail. It was showed that the ruthenium-based catalyst could selectively hydrogenate the carbon carbon double bond on the molecular chain of nitrile rubber and retain the cyano group. When the mass fraction of NBR was 0.05%, the HNBR product with more than 95% hydrogenation degree and no gel could be obtained after 3 h reaction. In addition, the performance of HNBR prepared in the emulsion state using the catalyst could be compared with commercial product Therban3406.