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.