TITLE:
Improved Automotive Fuel Resistance of Natural Rubber/Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene Blends by Blending Epoxidized Natural Polymer
AUTHORS:
Manisara Phiriyawirut, Sawanya Luamlam
KEYWORDS:
Natural Rubber; CSM Rubber; Blend; Epoxidized Natural Rubber; Automotive Fuel Resistance
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Organic Polymer Materials,
Vol.3 No.4,
October
30,
2013
ABSTRACT: The natural rubber (NR) was mixed with chlorosulfonated
polyethylene (CSM), due to the difference of polarity in NR and CSM made this blend incompatible and the third component was used.
Epoxidzed natural rubber (ENR) was used as a third
component. NR/CSM blended with the blend ratio of 50/50 was prepared by using a
two-roll mill and vulcanization in a compression mold at 160°C. The ENR
content was varied from 1 to 7 phr. The curing characteristics, morphology,
mechanical properties, and automotive fuel swelling were investigated. The
results indicated that the cure time of the blend rubbers was shorter
as adding ENR. The mechanical properties of the blend rubbers
were not affected by ENR content. However, automotive fuel resistance of the
blend rubbers was found to increase with adding ENR in rubber blend.