Studies of Polymer-Filler Interaction, Network Structure, Physical Properties, and Fracture of Silica-and Clay-Filled EPDM Rubber in the Presence of a Silane Coupling Agent

1. A silane coupling agent (Si-69) reduces the viscosity and increases the scorch lime in silica- and clay-filled EPDM. The cure lime of silica-filled mixes remained unchanged and that of clay-filled mixes increased on addition of Si-69. 2. In the presence of Si-69, the silica-EPDM system exhibits higher polymer-filler interaction than the clay-EPDM system. 3. Vulcanizates containing Si-69 exhibit higher apparent crosslink density and a higher proportion of polysulfidic crosslinks than the control vulcanizates. 4. Vulcanizates containing Si-69 show improved physical properties. Lower tensile and tear properties in vulcanizates with Si-69 at higher filler loadings is explained via a slippage mechanism. 5. SEM studies of fractured surfaces created under tension, tear, flexing, and abrasion have been made, and changes in the strength of the vulcanizates have been correlated with the fractographs.