Reinforcement of Dynamically Vulcanized EPDM/PP Elastomers Using Organoclay Fillers: Dynamic Properties of Rubber Vibration Isolators and Antivibration Performance

Abstract

Dynamically vulcanized ethylene—propylene—diene/polypropylene (EPDM/PP) elastomers that were reinforced with various amounts of organoclay were prepared using octylphenol—formaldehyde resin and stannous chloride dehydrate as vulcanizing agents. The effects of organoclay on X-ray, mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical analysis, hysteresis, and dynamic properties were studied. X-ray analysis revealed that these organoclay-filled thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) were intercalated. The organoclay improved the mechanical properties of TPVs. Dynamic mechanism analysis indicated that organoclay can increase the damping (tan δ) and storage modulus of EPDM/PP TPVs at ambient temperature. The hysteresis behavior revealed that when the organoclay content exceeded 6 phr, the antivibration performance of these TPVs increased with the organoclay content. The dynamic ratio does not vary greatly as tan δ of EPDM/PP TPVs is increased.