The Compression Set Behavior of Nitrile Rubber

Abstract

Abstract The compression set (C.S.) of a vulcanizate depends on the formulation, processing, and conditions of cure. The following factors are the most important: (a) the type of elastomer, (b) the curing system, (c) the type and amount of filler, (d) the type and amount of plasticizer, (e) the type and amount of antioxidant, (f) the type of cure (press, steam, or hot air), and (g) the cure time and temperature. The present paper is intended, as far as possible, to describe these relationships quantitatively. Most tests will refer to nitrile rubber. We have modified the C.S. method described in ASTM D-395. The deviations are as follows : (1) When C.S. is plotted as a function of the duration of compression, the resulting curves rise steeply for roughly the first seven days, afterwards becoming flatter. The higher the test temperature, the steeper the curve. The ordinary compression times of 22 and 70 h still correspond to the steep part of the C.S. curve; here relatively small inaccuracies in the compression time and test temperature bring large errors in the C.S. readings. Therefore, to improve the correlation between C.S. readings and field behavior the test was extended to seven days in most cases. Longer test times would have been experimentally impractical. (2) As a rule, only C.S. figures relating to 20°, 70°, and 100° C are found in the literature, so test temperatures were extended to include practical conditions. Generally, therefore, C.S. readings were taken at twelve different temperatures ranging from −60° C to +160° C. (3) According to the standards the test pieces should be cooled to room temperature after removal of the load and before the recovery measurement is carried out. Only ASTM D-1229-62 requires the remeasurement to be taken at the load temperature. This ensures accurate measurements of the C.S. at low temperatures. In our tests this was done in every case because at high temperature the C.S. readings are lower since (1) many elastomers recover better at elevated temperatures than at room temperature and (2) the thermal expansion of the test piece can be measured in addition to the recovery. Nevertheless, the differences between remeasurements taken at room temperature and the test temperature are small if the test temperature is fairly high. Where lower test temperatures are used, the remeasurement should always be taken at test temperature if useful results are to be obtained. In all the tests the time allowed for recovery between removal of the load and the remeasurement was thirty min.