During the existence of the Department, its team, in cooperation with industry institutes and rubber industry enterprises, is working on solving urgent problems in the field of creating new types of rubber and composite materials based on elastomers.

The most important theoretical and practical researches are devoted to actual problems of vulcanization of rubber, the mechanism of action of accelerators of vulcanization, search of new vulcanizing systems, modification of rubber, creation of special types of rubber for bus, rubber, gas, metallurgical, cable and other industries.

For the first time the works on the implementation of the system of white soot and the complex RU for the significant increase in the strength of bonding tire rubber with textile cord. The developed system, known as HRH, has been widespread throughout the world.

At the metallurgical enterprises, a rubber cartridge container was introduced instead of a metal for transporting hot metal samples for rapid analysis from a blast furnace or martin to a pneumatic post over the pipeline, which greatly reduced the weight of the container and noise during its transportation.

The scientific and technical bases of application of modifying systems in multilayered rubber-reinforced composites have been developed (Dr. Vashin Y.M.). The basic directions of creation of modifying systems, which provide concentration of functional agents on the boundary of phase separation in the elastomeric matrix, are determined. It allows to effectively regulate the adhesion and anti-adhesion properties of human-reinforced systems, the properties of compositions based on rubbers of different polarity, the characteristics of multilayer systems of the type “vulcanizate-rubber compound”. On the basis of the principles developed, a whole series was created by modifying the systems and technologies of their application in elastomeric materials, including those with secondary raw materials; layered adhesive compositions for the repair of automobile tires, including SVGSH and VGSH, were developed; developed by modifying the compositions regenerating for the surface treatment of rubber crumb for its efficient use in the composition of tire rubber and rubber for RTI. In addition, the use of the principles of transport synergism developed complex stabilizing additives that significantly reduce the content of traditional ingredients in the composition of tire rubber and rubber for footwear and molded RTI.

On the basis of the developed principles, a number of technologies have been created that allow solving environmental problems through the efficient utilization of rubber waste.

The principles of formation of geometric phase morphology of elastomeric materials were first determined at the department. They became the basis for the development of new representations on the determining role of geometric parameters in the properties of polymer materials (Dr. N.M. Yevdokimenko). Based on the application of the Ferhülst model using percolation analysis, the influence of different components of rubber mixtures on the phase morphology of materials has been studied. The method of evaluation of morphological structure parameters is developed. The obtained data allow to effectively regulate the complex of properties of elastomeric materials.

Intensive development direction, initiated by the professor, D.Sc. Kutyanina VS, concerning the creation of composite ingredients of various purposes, which are used for the manufacture of rubber mixtures in the tire and rubber industry. The use of such components allows one side to improve the complex of technical properties of rubber, and on the other – to partially or completely replace the scarce and valuable ingredients in the composition of rubber mixtures. Such additives as the modifier BR, Aminol, Aminofen and others. Serially produced for the needs of the rubber industry (Ph.D. Tereshchuk M.M., Ph.D. Levanyuk)

One of the main areas of research of the department is glue and adhesives of various purposes (Dr. Ye. Y.R., Ph.D., Zibaylo S.M.). The application of new approaches, including the calculations, allowed the creation of a series of adhesive compositions for use in various industries at the level of the best world counterparts.

In addition, highly concentrated low-viscosity adhesive compounds for use in the furniture industry have been developed (candidate of technical sciences Vashchenko Yu.M., Dr. Sci. Yevdokimenko N.M.).

The continuation of works begun under the leadership of G. A. Bloch is the development of ideas about the mechanism of action of the multifunctional components of the vulcanizing group – sulfuric, nitrogen and phosphorus-containing compounds (Dr. V. Ovcharov). Recommendations on the use of FOS as accelerators of sulfuric vulcanization of elastomeric compositions based on diene rubbers in order to intensify vulcanization processes and energy saving in the production of more high-quality rubber products, reducing the formation of toxic and carcinogenic compounds, expanding the range of in ediyentiv. Using the studied FOS, sulfuric vulcanizing systems were created for elastomeric compositions for the manufacture of tires, rubber-technical products, cable products, rubber footwear. In addition, work continues with the use of natural fillers and their modification by surface-active compounds with the formation of nanostructures in elastomeric materials.

In recent years, the possibility of using as a component of rubber mixtures a wide spectrum of action of by-products of production of phenols from coal-tar, containing various derivatives of phenols, is studied. The polyfunctionality of the FD product on the basis of phenol derivatives and the positive effect on the properties of tread rubber for tires of various applications are shown. Increased strength and resistance to thermal aging, increased resistance to cracks formation and fatigue wasting have been established. Also defined is the action of quaternary ammonium salts, synthesized from available raw materials (urotropin and benzyl chloride), as well as on the basis of raw materials of plant origin (castor oil or furfural). It is shown that compounds with quaternized nitrogen atom (quaternary ammonium salts) are not only a component of intercalated layered silicates of elastomer nanocomposites, but also effective vulcanizing active ingredients of elastomeric compositions based on diene rubbers. The perspective direction of their receipt is the synthesis on the basis of renewable bio-raw materials. The influence of carboxyl-containing polyguanidinamines on processes that take place in a rubber-metal-metal system is investigated. The high efficiency of the carboxyl-containing polyguanidines as rubber adhesion promoters to the brass metal cord is shown.

The research was conducted to reveal the patterns of correlation of deformation-strength, tribotechnical and technological properties of block polyurethanes with parameters of structural organization of various levels. The system of epoxy + phenol formaldehyde resin for modifying block polyurethane has been investigated. Curing systems for different types of epoxy oligomers are investigated. It has been shown that the evaluation of the activity of modified polyamines and their mixtures in the hardening of epoxy resins should be carried out at the maximum temperature of the exothermic reaction of the interaction of epoxy groups of resins and amine groups of hardeners.

Considered the possibility of using waste in the manufacture and operation of rubber with the use of various polyfunctional compounds. The expediency of the use of modified regenerates on the basis of rubber waste produced by GTP on the basis of fluoroelastomers is shown, since the cost of products decreases, and the resistance to aggressive environments increases. It has been shown that modified regenerates can be effectively used up to 50 ppm. for the manufacture of GTP, which are operated under the conditions of various aggressive factors, rubber based on SKF-26 rubber, with both amine and bisphenol vulcanization, as well as on the basis of rubber SKF-32 with catalysed salicylaluminum and non-peroxide radical type vulcanizing system.

Epoxy wear-resistant composites and polyurethane blocks with high viscoelastic properties and thermostability have been developed.

Rubber was developed using modified regenerate, obtained from wastes produced by rubber-technical products based on fluoroelastomers, which have increased thermochemical resistance.

The influence of the molecular structure of silicon-based apretes on the strength of the rubber-based rubber on the basis of the SCPE to the steel of St.3 during vulcanization was investigated. The influence of the order of application of the paper and the coating glue on the strength of the rubber-metal compounds has been established and it is recommended to apply two layers of coating glue over the layer of silicon containing a radical residue of polyoxypropylene glycol with a molecular weight of 400.

The technological features of the use of methyl esters of fatty acids obtained from raw materials of vegetable origin are considered for processing of the surface of crushed vulcanizate, which allow to regulate both the properties of composite materials, and to choose technological processing scheme taking into account the existing equipment and energy consumption.

The results of the research showed the benefits of experimental activators based on the fatty acid ester obtained on the basis of raw materials of plant and animal origin, manufactured according to optimal technological parameters, compared with the traditional system of activators.

Scientific activity at the Department is closely connected with the creative interests of students. The most capable students are involved in conducting research on the main scientific areas of the Department, participating in works of republican and international conferences of students and young scientists, participating in various contests.

The research results of the Department’s staff are constantly reported at scientific and technical conferences of different levels in Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria. Relevance of the conducted researches is confirmed by received more than 220 certificates of authorship and patents. The staff of the department published more than 900 articles and 20 monographs, some of which were published in the UK.

The Department is also the organizer of the traditional Ukrainian scientific and technical conferences of rubberers, during the years of independent Ukraine, 10 scientific and technical conferences with international participation were held.