Insights into Mechanical, Thermal, and Electrical Properties of Peroxide-Cured Chlorinated Polyethylene/Ethylene Methacrylate Copolymer Blend Vulcanizates.

Abstract

This work unveils the effect of chemical modification of compatible elastomer blends based on the chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) and ethylene methacrylate copolymer (EMA) (60:40 ratio) using dicumyl peroxide (DCP). CPE/EMA blend vulcanizates were prepared by varying the DCP concentration from 0.5 to 3.0 wt %. All blend vulcanizates showed significant enhancement in physiomechanical properties and thermal stability upon increasing the DCP concentration. DCP incorporation also enhanced the compatibility between CPE and EMA rubbers, which was revealed from FTIR data and other technical properties. Specifically, the vulcanizates with 1.5 wt % DCP showed an enormous improvement in mechanical properties and glass transition temperature (Tg) due to various reasons such as cure characteristics, cross-linking densities, co-cross-linking systems, and morphological features. Uniform distribution of DCP in both the elastomeric phases across their interphases caused co-cross-linking, which increased interphase adhesion in the blend vulcanizates. High interphase adhesion of the blend vulcanizates of 1.5 wt % DCP was directly reflected in its improved mechanical, thermal, flame retardation properties and enhanced oil resistance and volume resistivity in comparison to pristine CPE/EMA blend vulcanizates. Also, the volume resistivity and oil resistance properties of blend vulcanizates were found to be marginally improved upon increasing the concentration of DCP.