Development and characterization of novel EPDM/NR prophylactic waste composites

摘要

Ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) is a well-known versatile polymer, which is frequently used in the production of rubber goods based on conventional and specialty polymers. The present paper investigates the role of recycled natural rubber prophylactic waste compared to virgin natural rubber in the development of novel ethylene propylene diene rubber composites. The processing characteristics have been evaluated using a Monsanto rheometer at three different temperatures 150, 160 and 170°C. The cure curves of EPDM compounds have been found to be the resultant of slow curing or marching cure curve of EPDM and that of fast curing ‘S’ shaped cure curve of natural rubber. The curing properties such as optimum cure time, scorch time and induction time have been found to be decreasing with the loading of prophylactic filler. For most of the cases, the values obtained for compositions with virgin natural rubber (ISNR-5) have been found to be lower than that with prophylactic filler.