Tensile behaviour and fracture toughness of EPDM filled with untreated and silane-treated glass beads

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 179 - 187
• Main Authors: ARENCON, D, VELASCO, J. I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adhesion; Applied sciences; Beads; Crack propagation; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture toughness; Glass; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Physical properties; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Properties and testing; Stiffness; Technology of polymers; Tensile properties; Tensile strength; Ball; Mechanical model; Glass; Mechanical properties; Temperature effect; Organic silane; Dispersion reinforced material; Tensile property; Experimental study; Property processing relationship; Extrusion molding; Surface treatment; Coupling agent; EPDM rubber; Fracture energy; Tenacity; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1004809608048

The Essential Work of Fracture (EWF) theory has been applied to study the fracture behaviour of untreated and silane-treated glass bead-filled EPDM composites. The experimental values of both Young's modulus and tensile strength have been compared with those predicted by the main theoretical and semiempirical models, and the influence of the composite processing temperature on the tensile properties has been studied, noticing a marked drop of stiffness and strength from a processing temperature of 200 °C. A good adhesion between EPDM matrix and glass beads was achieved with the silane Z-6032, resulting in higher tensile strength, and it has been observed that glass bead presence induces plasticity in the EPDM matrix. No differences of the specific essential work of fracture were found in the three filled samples, although results show that the higher adhesion degree between matrix and particles, the higher value of the specific plastic work of fracture, and also the higher final instability in crack propagation.