BUILDING EXPANSION JOINTSModified Nitrile and SBS Rubbers Explored for Carbon Capture Applications
Researchers have published findings on the use of chemically modified nitrile rubber (NBR) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) rubber as potential materials for capturing carbon dioxide, according to a study featured on ScienceDirect. The work investigates post-modification techniques applied to these elastomeric compounds to enhance their affinity for CO2 adsorption.
The research focuses on altering the chemical structure of both NBR and SBS rubbers after their initial synthesis — a process known as post-modification — to introduce functional groups capable of binding with CO2 molecules. This approach is notable because both nitrile and SBS rubbers are widely produced industrial elastomers, making them relatively accessible feedstocks for developing carbon capture media without relying on exotic or high-cost materials.
While the study is academic in nature, its implications extend into the broader rubber and polymer industry. Nitrile rubber is commonly used in sealing applications across automotive, industrial and construction sectors due to its resistance to oils and temperature variation. SBS, a thermoplastic elastomer, finds use in adhesives, bitumen modification and flexible sealing compounds. Demonstrating that these materials can be repurposed or functionalised for environmental applications adds a new dimension to their value chain.
The carbon capture challenge has intensified interest in low-energy, solid-state sorbent materials as alternatives to conventional liquid amine-based systems, which are energy-intensive to regenerate. Solid rubber-based sorbents, if proven scalable, could offer a more practical route for decentralised or industrial-scale CO2 removal.
It is worth noting that the study deals with laboratory-scale post-modification chemistry, and commercial viability would require significant further development, including durability testing under cyclic adsorption and desorption conditions and assessment of long-term material stability.
Nevertheless, the research signals a growing intersection between elastomer science and sustainability technology — a space that the rubber compounding and sealing industries are increasingly being drawn into as environmental regulations tighten globally.
For specifiers of EPDM, TPR and TPV sealing systems or extruded aluminium expansion joint profiles, awareness of evolving elastomer chemistries is essential as material innovation continues to reshape performance benchmarks and environmental credentials in construction applications.
Compiled by Dseal from industry sources. Original: ScienceDirect.com.