Dynamic properties of elastomers after water immersion

Abstract

AbstractVulcanized bromobutyl, natural and nitrile rubbers were immersed in distilled water, or seawater, at 20, 40 or 60°C for up to 32 weeks and the resulting changes in weight and dynamic mechanical properties were monitored. Larger weight increases were observed for the specimens immersed in distilled water than for the equivalent specimens in seawater, and there was no sign of an equilibrium weight uptake being reached for the specimens immersed in distilled water at 60°C. Bromobutyl rubber showed increases in the magnitude of the loss tangent peak which could be related to the weight increases in both distilled water and seawater but the decreases in peak height observed for natural rubber and nitrile rubber were not well correlated with weight increases.