Effect of iron oxide on vulcanization kinetics and electrical conductance of butyl rubber composites

This paper investigates the effect of iron oxide concentration on the vulca nization process, electrical conductance during swelling in kerosene, and s heds some light on the possible mechanism of vulcanization kinetics. The ra te and degree of crosslinking have been evaluated as a function of Fe2O3 co ncentration. It was found that the characteristic time constant during vulc anization decreases as the Fe2O3 concentration increases. The activation en ergy of the crosslinking reaction is calculated. An abrupt decrease in elec trical conductance appears after a characteristic time of swelling. A modif ied model is suggested to calculate the separation distance in the conducti ve rubber matrix. The effect of microwave irradiation on electrical conduct ance and separation distance between conductive aggregate of butyl rubber ( IIR) composites is also studied. Fe2O3 inhibits the degradation of IIR comp osites and microwave irradiation enhances the texturing microstructure of r ubber matrix. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.