AFM STUDIES ON SILICA DISPERSION IN EPDM RUBBER

作者：Natchimuthu N^*

来源：Rubber Chemistry and Technology, 2010, 83(2): 123-132.

DOI：10.5254/1.3548270

EPDM rubber formulations filled with precipitated silica and cross-linked by peroxide vulcanization have been investigated with the objective of realizing better processing characteristics and vulcanizate properties. Dispersion of silica in EPDM rubber in the presence of conventional coupling agents and in the presence of an epoxy resin has been investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). AFM results of EPDM rubber compounds containing silica fillers in the presence of the epoxy resin have exhibited improved silica dispersion in terms of scanned height. The latter has been found to be in the range of 0-100 nm for EPDM rubber-silica systems with epoxy resin, while in the absence of the resin, scanned height has been found to be in the range of 0-700 nm. The significant reduction in scanned height in the presence of epoxy resin has been attributed to the reduction in surface roughness which is an indication for good dispersion of silica in the rubber. Morphological studies using SEM, mechanical properties, and Mooney-Rivlin constants all have shown significant improvement in performance properties of EPDM rubber silica compounds containing epoxy resin and vulcanized with dicumyl peroxide.

• 出版日期2010-6