Effects of functionalized carbon nanotubes in peroxide crosslinking of diene elastomers

2009

Abstract The crosslinking reaction of ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer (EPDM) peroxide vulcanization filled with pristine and functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs and S/CNTs) was evaluated by rheometric tests. The functionalization of CNTs was carried out by diazonium salt methodology in acid medium. S/CNTs were characterised by means of TGA, EDX, Raman and elemental analysis. Pristine CNTs were found to gradually increase the delta torque as a function of loading fraction. Nevertheless, the vulcanization time, scorch and optimum cure time hardly varied on addition of CNTs. However, S/CNTs noticeably affected the cure process, reducing the vulcanization time and delta torque. This effec…