HIGH-THROUGHPUT KINETIC STUDY OF PEROXIDE CURINGOF EPDM RUBBER

摘要

Mixing of EPDM and a peroxide curative via a solution route and subsequent curing were performed in a downscaled set-up. The resulting vulcanizates were characterized by a down-scaled hardness measurement and by Raman spectroscopy in a high-throughput experimentation compatible approach. The characterization results obtained on these vulcanizates agreed well with those obtained on corresponding vulcanizates prepared via conventional mill mixing. By indentation on vulcanizates cured for various curing times, a rheometer curve could be constructed. The conversion of the EPDM unsaturation and, thus, the extent of the addition reactions was quantified by Raman spectroscopy. Using both the indentation and the Raman data, the cross-link density resulting from combination reactions was estimated.