TITLE:
Natural Rubber/Fluoro Elastomer Blends: Effect of Third Component on Cure Characteristics, Morphology,Mechanical Properties, and Automotive Fuel Swelling
AUTHORS:
Manisara Phiriyawirut, Thalatchanan Limwongwatthananan, Surawut Kaemram, Sirithada Wiengkaew
KEYWORDS:
Natural Rubber; Fluoro Elastomer; Epoxidized Natural Rubber; Blend
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Polymer Chemistry,
Vol.3 No.4,
September
17,
2013
ABSTRACT: The natural rubber (NR) was mixed with fluoro elastomer (FKM), due
to the difference of polarity in NR and FKM made this blend incompatible so the
third component was used. NR/FKM blended with the blend ratio of 70/30 was
prepared by using a two-roll mill and vulcanization in a compression mold at
180℃ using peroxide as a curative agent. Epoxidized natural rubber
(ENR) or polyisoprene-graft-maleic acid monomethyl ester (PI-ME) was used as a third
component. The curing characteristics, morphology, mechanical properties, and
automotive fuel swelling were investigated. The results indicated that the
scorch time and cure time of the blend rubbers were longer as adding ENR or
PI-ME. Both mechanical properties and automotive fuel resistance of the blend
rubbers were found to increase with adding ENR in rubber blend. Conversely for
adding PI-ME, automotive fuel resistance of the blend rubbers was found to
decrease progressively with increasing PI-ME content.