High Performance Polymers and Their Nanocomposites

Chapter 9High-Performance Oil/Fuel-Resistant Blends of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) and Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR)

D.K. Setua^1,* and G.B. Nando²

¹Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment, Kanpur, India

²Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India

*Corresponding author: [e-mail]

Abstract

Allylic position of the pendant diene unit of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber has been reacted with maleic anhydride (MAH) to prepare MAH-grafted EPDM (MA-g-EPDM). Blends of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and EPDM as well as ENR with MA-g-EPDM were prepared and studied for their compatibility and mechanical properties, e.g., tensile strength, hardness, elongation at break, etc., which were found to be improved upon using MA-g-EPDM in place of unmodified EPDM. FTIR studies confirm the grafting of EPDM by MAH and also showed that the epoxy group of ENR is converted into secondary alcohol and further reacted with –COOH group of MA-g-EPDM to form ester bridges. Ultrasonic interferometer studies with solution blends of ENR with either EPDM or MA-g-EPDM were done to further ascertain the compatibility of the component phases. Elemental analysis was conducted to find out the percentage changes of carbon and hydrogen in EPDM as a result of grafting by MAH. Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) of MA-g-EPDM showed a shift of the glass transition temperature (Tg) from –43 °C to +38 °C by maleination of EPDM which occurred due to restricted ...