# Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Morphology, Physico-Mechanical, and Performance Properties of EPDM/NBR Rubber Blends Containing Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene as a Compatibilizer

## TL;DR

This study examines how adding chlorosulfonated polyethylene improves the properties of a rubber blend used in oil-resistant products.

## Contribution

The study introduces a compatibilizer that enhances the performance and stability of EPDM/NBR rubber blends in oil environments.

## Key findings

- Adding CSM 40 improves the compatibility of EPDM/NBR rubber blends, as shown by dynamic mechanical analysis.
- Vulcanizates with CSM 40 show increased strength and hardness compared to those without the compatibilizer.
- The rubber compound with CSM 40 maintains stable properties after exposure to oils and aging.

## Abstract

The article studies the influence of chlorosulfonated polyethylene CSM 40 as a compatibilizer on the curing characteristics of the rubber compound, dynamic mechanical analysis, morphology, physico-mechanical and performance properties of vulcanized rubber based on a compound of ethylene propylene diene monomer EPDM S 501A and nitrile butadiene NBR 2645 rubbers. DMA studies indicate that the temperature dependence of tanδ for vulcanizates with and without a compatibilizer based on EPDM S 501A/NBR 2645 at a ratio of 75/25 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr) has a bimodal character, which indicates the incompatibility of the rubber phases. The temperature dependence for EPDM S 501A/NBR 2645 vulcanizates (25/75 phr) with and without a compatibilizer has a monomodal form, which characterizes the improved compatibility of the rubber phases. SEM showed that a clearly defined microporous structure is observed on a cleavage of vulcanizate sample EPDM/NBR (25/75 phr) without a compatibilizer; with the addition of CSM 40, this feature is retained, but becomes less pronounced. It is shown that vulcanizates containing the compatibilizer CSM 40 are characterized by increased strength properties and hardness compared to vulcanized rubber without a compatibilizer. It was established that the vulcanized rubber based on EPDM S 501A/NBR 2645/CSM 40 (25/75/5 phr) is characterized by the smallest changes in the elastic-strength properties and hardness of vulcanizates after a day of thermo-oxidative aging in air and their weight after exposure to industrial oil I-20A and standard petroleum fluid SZhR-1 at room temperature among vulcanizates based on EPDM S 501A and NBR 2645. The vulcanizate of the rubber compound, including a compound of EPDM/NBR (25/75 phr) with a compatibilizer CSM 40 in an amount of 5 phr (2.88 wt.%), is characterized by stable physico-mechanical properties and improved performance properties. This rubber compound can be used for the manufacture of rubber products operating under the influence of oils and hydrocarbon environments.