Permeation of Chlorinated Hydrocarbon Vapors through High Density Polyethylene/Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer Rubber Blends

Polymer membranes were prepared by blending high density polyethylene (HDPE) with ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM) and were tested for vapor permeation characteristics. The variation in sorption, diffusion, and permeation coefficients with blend composition has been studied and it was found that in these blends the permeability coefficient and sorption coefficients increased with increase in EPDM concentration. The permeation rate decreased with the increase in molecular mass of the penetrants. The permeability of the HDPE/EPDM blends vulcanized with three different vulcanizing systems has been studied and found that as the degree of crosslinking increases, the permeability decreases. The permeability measurements provide useful information on the morphology changes with composition of the blends and on the composition corresponding to the maximum level of co-continuity of the two phases.