From waste rubber to value polybutadiene modification for circular materials.
review · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41644527.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-69032-9 and PMC identifier 12886778.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Synthetic rubber waste poses a growing environmental challenge due to its cross-linked, non-recyclable nature. This Perspective examines emerging post-polymerization modification strategies for linear polybutadiene and vulcanized rubber, spanning catalytic, metal-free, and catalyst-free approaches, and evaluates their alignment with Green and Circular Chemistry principles. By coupling sustainability metrics with assessments of technological readiness, we highlight current limitations and opportunities for the real-world implementation of these approaches. Looking ahead, we outline how integrating mechanochemistry, machine learning, and life-cycle assessment can enable scalable, low-impact transformations that recast vulcanized polybutadiene from waste to resource, paving the way toward a circular elastomer framework.