IN-SITU EPOXIDATION OF ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE DIENE RUBBER BY PERFORMIC ACID

In this paper, epoxidation of ethylene propylene diene rubber by in si tu generated performic acid is discussed. The samples have been charac terized by infra-red and H-1-nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Quan titative analysis of the reaction products is made possible by using t he methyl deformation band at 1377 cm(-1) as internal standard. The co nversion of double bonds increases rapidly within the first 1 h, then gradually, over 2 h, has only a slight increase. The maximum conversio n ratio of double bonds is about 70%. The relative content of epoxy gr oups has a top value at about 7 h. The side reactions are also discuss ed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.