Decrosslinking of zinc diacrylate‐cured epoxidized natural rubber via selective cleavage of carbon–oxygen bond

The decrosslinking for zinc diacrylate (ZDA)‐cured epoxidized natural rubber is successfully achieved by using the AlCl3/toluene as the decrosslinking system. The decrosslinking mechanism via selective cleavage of CO bonds of the crosslinks is revealed. Furthermore, the characterizations on the model compounds demonstrate that the cleavage of CO bonds can only occur in the ether groups, which the oxygen atoms are adjacent to the tertiary carbons. More importantly, the reclaimed rubber which possessed excellent elasticity can be recompounded and recured. The revulcanized rubber exhibits good mechanical property. This study provides a unique insight into efficient decrosslinking and recycling diene‐based rubber. Epoxidized diene‐based rubber is chemically decrosslinked via selective cleavage of CO bonds with the assistance of AlCl3. The decrosslinking process is one‐step, green, and efficient. The obtained reclaimed rubber with excellent elasticity could be recured, and the revulcanized rubber exhibits higher mechanical properties compared to that of original rubber.