Radiation effects on the structure, physical and mechanical properties of rubber/inorganic nanocomposites

Abstract

Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber is one of the fastest growing synthetic rubbers, which has the inherent resistance to heat, light and ozone due to its saturated hydrocarbon backbone with the presence of double bonds in side chains. Inorganic nanofillers have a major role in improvement of the desired electrical, thermal and mechanical properties of polymers. The major drawbacks of low physico-mechanical characteristics of EPDM are overcome by the combination of various particulate fillers such as montmorillonite clay, fumed silica, zirconium silicate and cerium oxide. However, it is difficult to disperse the clay layers within EPDM, because EPDM does not have any polar group in its backbone and it is incompatible with polar organophilic clay to prepare products having desired properties. Therefore, montmorillonite clay and cerium oxide will be modified to improve their compatibilities with the EPDM rubber. In this work, the specific fillers used are modified montmorillonite clay, fumed silica, zirconium silicate and modified cerium oxide. The effect of gamma irradiation on the physical and mechanical properties of the different rubber/inorganic nanocomposites will be investigated. N, N-m-phenylenedimaleimide coagent will be used to enhance the radiation crosslinking of the nanocomposites. The effect of different parameters on the properties of gamma irradiated rubber nanocomposites will be elaborated. Due to the above attractive properties, thermal and electrical insulators based on - irradiated EPDM/Nanofillers will be prepared for the different industrial applications.