EFFECT OF PARAFFINIC OIL AND ZINC STEARATE AS PLASTICIZERS ON PROPERTIES OF IONIC THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER BASED ON ZINC SULFONATED EPDM

Precipitated silica improves the physical properties of zinc sulfonate d EPDM of high ethylene content Both paraffinic oil and zinc stearate plasticize the silica filled zinc sulfonated EPDM compound. While the plasticizing ability oi zinc stearate is observable only at temperatur es above its melting point (> 129 degrees C), that of paraffinic oil i s evident both at ambient conditions and at elevated temperatures. The silica filled compound containing both paraffinic oil and zinc steara te show low melt viscosity. The thermoplastic elastomeric nature oi th e compound is evident from the retention oi stress-strain properties a nd melt viscosity even after three cycles of repeated processing.