DYNAMIC MECHANICAL THERMAL-ANALYSIS OF SWOLLEN EPDM NETWORK

Dynamic mechanical properties of filled EPDM vulcanizates swollen in liquid paraffin to different extents have been studied. Swelling decreases the dynamic modulus and loss modulus, and increases the tan-delta values at low strain amplitudes. Studied over a temperature range of -150-degrees-C to room temperature, the results show the effects of the swelling medium on alpha and beta relaxation transitions. Strain-dependent dynamic properties indicate the influence of solvent on various interaction forces in the filled vulcanizate. Attention is drawn to the transient nature of the filler structure in the presence of swelling medium and the mechanism of its change under applied strain, is discussed.