Oxidation of GR-S and Other Elastomers
Abstract The effect of heat aging on the physical properties of an elastomer is generally considered the result of oxidation, which produces both chain scission and cross-linking in the polymer. Early in the development of GR-S, a marked difference in the aging of GR-S and natural rubber vulcanizates was observed. From the effect of aging on hardness, tensile strength, modulus, and elongation it appeared that cross-linking occurred more rapidly than chain scission with GR-S, but the reverse was true with natural rubber. The work reported here was undertaken to provide a better understanding of the differences in aging of GR-S and natural rubber and to introduce new experimental methods for studying the mechanism of oxidation and antioxidant action in elastomers.