Effects of different vulcanization systems on physical and mechanical properties and electrical insulation of ethylene propylene diene monomer

Abstract

Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) vulcanizates were prepared by sulfur vulcanization, semi-effective vulcanization, sulfur carrier vulcanization, organic peroxide vulcanization and composite vulcanization systems respectively. The effects of different vulcanization systems on curing characteristics, physical and mechanical properties and electrical insulation of EPDM vulcanizates were investigated. The results showed that in the cross-linking structure of EPDM vulcanizate, peroxide vulcanized EPDM vulcanizate had excellent electrical insulation, but poor physical and mechanical properties. The sulfur vulcanized EPDM vulcanizate had excellent physical and mechanical properties but poor electrical insulation. The electrical insulation and physical and mechanical properties of EPDM vulcanizates vulcanized with sulfur carrier and semi- effective vulcanization were poor. In the composite vulcanization system, EPDM vulcanizate had excellent electrical insulation, large volume resistivity, small dielectric loss and dielectric constant, and excellent physical and mechanical properties.

Keywords

• ethylene propylene diene monomer
• vulcanization system
• cross-linking structure
• curing characteristics
• electrical insulation
• physical and mechanical property