Microcellular foaming of chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber and its kaolin‐filled compounds with supercritical nitrogen

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe microcellular foaming of vulcanizates made from chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM) rubber and its kaolin‐filled compounds was carried out with supercritical nitrogen. The effects of various curing times, temperatures of the vulcanizates, and kaolin filler contents in the vulcanizates on the prepared foams were studied. The foaming of the vulcanizates with various crosslinking densities revealed the critical effect the crosslinking density of the CSM matrix played on its foaming. A certain sufficient level of crosslinking density was most effective for the foaming of the matrix; a higher crosslinking density led to a decreased cell size, increased cell density, and decreased matrix expansion in the foams. The effect of the crosslinking density was due to its effect on the free volume of the elastomeric matrix, which controlled the gas diffusion from the matrix during the pressure‐release stage of the foaming operation. The incorporation of kaolin decreased the cell size and increased the cell density of the foams; the decreased free volume and the heterogeneous cell nucleation effect of the kaolin contributed to this. The tensile strength of the foams significantly improved with increasing kaolin content in the foams. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45656.