Synthesis of Aluminum Triacrylate as Reactive Filler in EPDM Reinforcement

Abstract

The organo-metal salt of aluminum triacrylate (ALTA) with a general formula of (CH2=CHCOO)3Al was synthesized as a reactive fller for elastomers through a two-step synthetic procedure. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), DSC and DTA were employed for ALTA analysis and to study its cure characteristics. In this research, two composites based on ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) with two types of reactive fllers of modifed organoclay and ALTA were prepared by a laboratory two-roll mill. The types and different ratios of organoclay and ALTA on curing characteristics, mechanical properties such as tensile properties, hardness, and abrasion resistance were studied. The increase in fller content of both composites led to the incremental increase in tensile strength, modulus, hardness, elongation-at-break and also the incremental increase in abrasion resistance of both composites. The improvement in reinforcing properties of ALTA in comparison with nanoclay is attributed to homopolymerization and graft copolymerization of ALTA at the same time during curing of the EPDM composites by peroxide. Making such additives may be taken as an effective action to achieve more durable and cheaper way to reinforce elastomers.

Keywords

• aluminum triacrylate
• epdm elastomer
• reinforcement
• synthesis
• nanoclay