Comparison of thermal stability of sulfur, peroxide and radiation cured NBR and SBR vulcanizates

A comparison of thermal stabilities of NBR and SBR vulcanizates cured by di fferent curing agents namely sulfur, peroxide and gamma radiation was perfo rmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), assessed on the basis of comparis on of DTG peak maxima and temperature for loss of 50% mass. Compared to sul fur and peroxide-cured vulcanizates, radiation-cured formulations demonstra ted much improved thermal stability. The influence of the variation of the amount of coagent and other additives on the thermal stabilities of formula tions of radiation-cured NBR and SBR vulcanizates was investigated. A compa rison of thermal stability of various radiation-cured NBR vulcanizates with SBR counterparts was also conducted. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.