Reinforcement of EPDM by in situ prepared zinc dimethacrylate

The mechanical properties and crosslink density of peroxide-cured ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) reinforced with zinc dimethacrylate (ZDMA) were studied. ZDMA was in situ prepared in EPDM matrix through the neutralization reaction of zinc oxide (ZnO) and methacrylate acid (ALA-A). The effect of ZnO/MAA amount and molar ratio of ZnO/MAA on the properties of the EPDM vuleanizate were investigated in detail. The experimental results showed that EPDM can be greatly reinforced by ZDMA. The excess amount of ZnO considerably increases the tensile strength of the EPDM vulcanizate to reach as high as 37 MPa, whereas its elongation at break keeps over 350%. The process of in situ formation of ZDMA in the EPDM compound was verified by WAXD. Such vulcanizate contains both covalent crosslinks and ionic crosslinks. Crosslink density was determined by an equilibrium swelling method. Dependence of crosslink density on the amount and molar ratio of ZnO/-MAA was studied and the extraordinary high tensile strength of the EPDM/ZDMA vulcanizate was related to ionic crosslink density. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.