Effect of formulation variables on cure kinetics, mechanical, and electrical properties of filled peroxide cured, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer compounds

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 120; no. 4; pp. 2191 - 2200
• Main Authors: Sengupta, Saurav, Esseghir, Mohamed, Cogen, Jeffrey M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 15.05.2011; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: activation energy; Applied sciences; Composites; crosslinking; Cures; curing of polymers; dielectric properties; Dielectric strength; elastomers; Evolution; Exact sciences and technology; Fillers; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Materials science; Mathematical models; Monomers; Peroxides; Plasticizers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Technology of polymers; Clay; Dielectric strength; curing of polymers; Electrical properties; Dielectric properties; Mechanical properties; Experimental study; Modeling; Composite material; Property formulation relationship; Vulcanization; Kinetic model; Additive; EPDM rubber; Vulcanizate; Experimental design; elastomers; Kinetics; Activation energy; crosslinking; Organic peroxide
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.33475

Peroxide crosslinkable ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) compounds are formulated systems in which the base polymer generally comprises only a small fraction of the total composition. Knowledge of the intercomponent dependency is therefore crucial for successful product development. In this study, we have investigated the effect of formulation components on key material properties of cured, filled, and oil extended EPDM. In studying the impact of individual components, the clay filler was found to have a significant and negative effect on cure performance and to a lesser extent on the dielectric strength as well. On the other hand, the oil plasticizer was found to have a positive effect on recovery of the cure efficiency in filled compounds. It was also found that the interaction of the filler, the plasticizer oil, and the peroxide impacted both the mechanical properties as well as the dielectric strength. Given the complexity of the system, a statistical experimental design method was adopted to study the interactions of the components and their impact of final properties. For selected compositions, the cure behavior and the evolution of properties with extent of cure were studied. The cure was also modeled and compared to previously proposed models available in the literature.