NR Sulphur Vulcanization: Interaction Study between TBBS and DPG by Means of a Combined Experimental Rheometer and Meta-model Best Fitting Strategy

The paper is aimed at studying the possible interaction between two different accelerators (DPG and TBBS) in the chemical kinetic of Natural Rubber (NR) vulcanized with sulphur. The same blend with several DPG and TBBS concentrations is deeply analyzed from an experimental point of view, varying the curing temperature in the range 150-180 degrees C and obtaining rheometer curves with a step of 10 degrees C. In order to study any possible interaction between the two accelerators -and eventually evaluating its engineering relevance-rheometer data are normalized by means of the well known Sun and Isayev normalization approach and two output parameters are assumed as meaningful to have an insight into the possible interaction, namely time at maximum torque and reversion percentage. Two different numerical meta-models, which belong to the family of the so-called response surfaces RS are compared. The first is linear against TBBS and DPG and therefore well reproduces no interaction between the accelerators, whereas the latter is a non-linear RS with bilinear term. Both RS are deduced from standard best fitting of experimental data available. It is found that, generally, there is a sort of interaction between TBBS and DPG, but that the error introduced making use of a linear model (no interaction) is generally lower than 10%, i.e. fully acceptable from an engineering standpoint.