INFLUENCE OF FLUOROACRYLATE CURE SITE MONOMER ON THE THERMAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE POLYACRYLIC ESTER ELASTOMER

Abstract

ABSTRACT The rubber industry is facing strong challenges in recent times because of imposed stringent standards on the performance of a product under adverse thermal and chemical applications. The choice of proper elastomer plays a significant role in imparting useful product performance. A new type of acrylic rubber with a fluoroacrylate cure site monomer was developed. Structural characterization, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), suggested the presence of four different monomer units. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy analysis was also performed to support the assessment of the resonance peaks of coupled nuclei spins in the terpolymer. The newly developed acrylic rubber exhibited superior thermal and mechanical properties. Hexamethylenediamine carbamate in combination with zinc oxide (ZnO) was used as the curing package for the new elastomer. ZnO acts as an acid scavenger to avoid the micro-void formation. The new elastomer with a higher number of cross-link junctions resulted in superior mechanical and thermal properties as well as swelling resistance of the vulcanizate both with and without carbon black.