Effect of Nature of Short Fibers/Carbon Black on Curing Characteristics and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber Composite

Abstract

Abstract

In this research work, ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) composites were prepared by incorporating the various types of short fibers like cellulose, polyester, p-aramid, m-aramid, cotton  short fibers and carbon black on a 2 roll mill. The effect of different short fibers content on the curing characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of EPDM composites were studied. When the loading of carbon black was fixed, it was found that carbon black content had no effect on scorch time. The cure time, minimum torque and maximum torque noted with the nature of short fibers used. Using the p-aramid short fiber content tended to increase the hardness of the Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber Composites. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break varied by varying the types of short fibers. Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber Composites showed the better abrasion resistance and compression set while the fibers load was fixed as 30 phr. The volume swell in ASTM I and III oils, heat ageing resistance of different short fibers filled Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber composites were also studied. Moreover, the modulus σ20, σ50 and σ100 for different short fibers filled in EPDM rubber composites studied and their results were critically compared. It was found that Polyester short fiber with 30 phr loading improved the curing characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of the EPDM composites due to 4.6–5.4% ENB content.

Keywords: Ethylene propylene diene rubber, Short fibers, Reinforcement, Polymer Composites

Cite this Article

A Murugesan, S Gandhi, R Baskaran et al. Effect of Nature of Short Fibers/Carbon Black on Curing Characteristics and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber Composite. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2016; 4(2): 34–43p.