The blending of NBR/EPDM with montmorillonite as compatibilizer: The effect of different accelerator

Abstract

The rubber blend is widely used in industry because of its excellent properties. In this study, Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) was blended with Ethylene Butadiene Monomer Rubber (EPDM) using montmorillonite as the compatibilizer. Various kinds of accelerators from different accelerator group (DPG, MBT, CBS, TMTD, and ZDEC) were employed into this blend. This research aimed to study the effect of the different accelerators on the curing characteristic, mechanical, and swelling properties of the NBR/EPDM blends. The result findings showed that DPG gives the longest scorch and optimum curing time. DPG also gave the lowest torque differences, cure rate index, and also the rate constant. While TMTD gave the fastest optimum curing time and also the highest torque differences, cure rate index, and rate constant. The other accelerator gave the curing characteristics among them. The MBT gave the highest tensile, elongation, and tear strength. Based on this research, the TMTD as secondary accelerator was the suitable accelerator for improving the curing characteristic properties and MBT as primary accelerator for improving the mechanical properties of NBR/EPDM.