Determination of Double Bonds in Ethylene Propylene Terpolymer Rubbers

Developments in the field of sulfur vulcanized unsaturated ethylene propylene terpolymer rubbers, also known as EPT rubbers, have progressed rapidly in recent years. Considerable success has been achieved in producing EPT rubbers from ethylene, propylene, and various dienes. Initial difficulties, involving introduction of double bonds into already known ethylene propylene copolymers, were soon overcome when it became clear that it was not the then commonly conjugated dienes such as butadiene and isoprene, but rather nonconjugated dienes, which were required for successful terpolymerization with ethylene and propylene, according to the Ziegler process. As with butyl rubber, it is sufficient, for vulcanization purposes, to incorporate one or two mole per cent of such dienes into the terpolymer. It is especially important, not only for polymerization, but also for rubber processing, to know the type and amount of unsaturation. In this article we wish first of all to report on double bond determinations in general and then, in particular, on qualitative and quantitative dicyclopentadiene determinations in ethylene propylene terpolymers. It is especially important, not only for polymerization, but also for rubber processing, to know the type and amount of unsaturation. In this article we wish first of all to report on double bond determinations in general and then, in particular, on qualitative and quantitative dicyclopentadiene determinations in ethylene propylene terpolymers.