Sirichai Pattanawanidchai. A study of relationships of phase morphology, oil resistance, ageing properties and mechanical properties in sulphur vulcanised chlorinated polyethylene and natural rubber blends. Master's Degree(Polymer Science and Technology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
A study of relationships of phase morphology, oil resistance, ageing properties and mechanical properties in sulphur vulcanised chlorinated polyethylene and natural rubber blends
Abstract:
The utilisation of polymer mixtures to achieve a desired combination of properties has obvious attractions, particularly when compared with the economical and technical uncertainties associated with synthesising new polymers. The blending of two elastomers or more is generally carried out with the objectives of enhancing mechanical properties, increasing resistance to heat, oxygen and oil and improving processing characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the influences of blend composition, antioxidant, type of sulphur vulcanisation systems and silica loading on the mechanical properties, thermal ageing, oil resistance and phase morphology of CPE/NR blends. Natural rubber (NR) was used as a partial substitute for elastomeric chlorinated polyethylene (CPE). Sulphur curing was used to vulcanise only the NR phase in the blends.
Results obtained from the first part of the study showed that the hydrochloric gas released from the CPE phase leading to a poor surface quality of the moulded products could successfully be suppressed by the use of magnesium oxide as an acid acceptor.
The second part focused mainly on the effect of blend composition on mechanical properties, oil resistance, thermal ageing properties and phase morphology of CPE/NR blends. The results showed that the immiscible blends with NR content up to 20% weight possess good resistance to oil and thermal ageing analogous to the neat CPE properties. Phase morphology was demonstrated to be responsible for the results.
In the third part, the influences of the type of sulphur vulcanisation system and crosslink density on mechanical properties and resistance to oil and thermal ageing were monitored. It was clearly found that oil resistance depends strongly on crosslink density rather than the type of crosslinking structure. On the other hand, thermal ageing resistance depends strongly on the type of crosslinking structure.
Finally, precipitated silica was added as a filler to the blends and its role in phase morphology and resistance to oil and thermal ageing of 80/20 CPE/NR blends was investigated. Results revealed a drastic decrease in phase size and thus an enhancement in mechanical properties as well as oil and thermal ageing resistances.