WETTING BEHAVIOR OF FUNCTIONALIZED SILICONE AND EPDM RUBBER

The contact angles and surface energies have been determined for silic one rubber functionalized with amide group and EPDM rubber modified wi th sulfonic acid and maleic anhydride. The functionalization of the po lymers decreases the equilibrium contact angles of water and formamide with an increase in the surface energy. The changes in the surface pr operties are due to the changes in the concentration of the polar grou ps as measured by IR spectroscopy. The lap shear measurement on joints of silicone and EPDM rubber indicates an increased strength on modifi cation. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.