Dynamic viscoelastic properties of CaCO3 filled, closed cell microcellular copoly (ethylene/octene) vulcanisates Effect of blowing agent, temperature, and strain

Abstract

Dynamic mechanical analysis of precipitate CaCO3 filled, closed cell microcellular ethylene–octene copolymer vulcanisates has been studied as a function of temperature and double strain amplitude. Experiments were carried out over the temperature range – 100 to 100°C. Strain dependent isothermal dynamic mechanical analysis was performed for double strain amplitude 0·09–5%. The log of storage modulus bears a simple relationship with the log of density for both solid and closed cell microcellular rubber. The slope of the line is found to be temperature dependent. The relative storage modulus decreases with decreasing relative density. The eect of blowing agent and filler loading on storage modulus and loss tangent were also studied. Cole–Cole plots of microcellular vulcanisates show a circular arc relationship with density. Plots of loss tangent against storage modulus were found to exhibit a linear relationship. Hysteresis and strain work also bear a linear relationship.