Thermal stability of butyl/EPDM rubber blend vulcanizates

Butyl rubber has some disadvantages such as marginal green strength and onl y fair heat and ozone resistance. These disadvantages can generally be over come by the partial replacement of butyl rubber (IIR) with ethylene propyle ne diene monomer rubber (EPDM). EPDM has a highly saturated backbone which gives it excellent resistance to the effect of oxygen and ozone. However, I IR has some unsaturation due to the isoprene units in its structure. In thi s investigation, data and observations on the heat resistance behaviour of IIR/EPDM blend vulcanizates over a range of compositions and temperatures a re highlighted. The results show that blending of IIR with EPDM is benefici al because of the enhancement of heat resistance of the blend vulcanizates. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.