Thermal Aging of Bentonite-Filled Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Composites

Bentonite-filled ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM/Bt) composites were prepared using two roll mill compounding method and the effect of Bt loading on the thermal aging, swelling resistance and crosslink density of EPDM/Bt composites were studied. The effect of in situ addition of different silane coupling agents (SCAs) on the above properties at optimum Bt loading of EPDM/Bt composite was also investigated. Thermal aging test results show that the tensile strength and tensile modulus at 100% elongation (M100) increase initially for 2 days aged composites and decrease slightly after 4 days of aging, meanwhile the elongation at break (E-b) decrease gradually with aging period as compared to the unaged composites. Upon aging, swelling resistance increase initially indicating increased crosslink density of EPDM/Bt composite due to post-curing and reduced after 4 days of aging due to crosslink destruction and EPDM chain scissioning. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4419-4427, 2013