Determination of three‐dimensional solubility parameters of HNBR/EPDM blends and the transport behaviors in ester solvents

Abstract

To enrich the research on the solubility parameter of rubber blends, equilibrium swelling tests combined with computer software, Hansen solubility parameter in practice (HSPiP), were employed to deeply investigate the three‐dimensional solubility parameters (HSP) of hydrogenated nitrile rubber/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (HNBR/EPDM) blends. And the transport behaviors of four ester solvents have been studied through the calculation of sorption and permeation coefficients. It is found that the HSP values of HNBR/EPDM blends show linear relationships with the mass fraction of HNBR. And a linear equation has been obtained for the calculation of the solubility parameters of HNBR/EPDM blends. Sorption and permeation coefficients show two‐stage upward linear relationships with the HNBR concentration, which can be attributed to the sea phase in the blend playing a decisive role in the transport behaviors of solvents. Moreover, the trend of the selective adsorption of the solvent is more obvious in the permeating process than that at the final equilibrium swelling state. The achievements can provide important guidance for evaluating the liquid resistance of the HNBR/EPDM‐based rubber products in industrial and automotive applications.

A Systematic Investigation of the Kinetic Models Applied to the Transport Behaviors of Aromatic Solvents in Unfilled Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubber/Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Composites

“…The Korsmeyer-Peppas model and Peppas-Sahlin model were selected to explain their transport behaviors, indicating that the release of the ester solvents is mainly due to solvent diffusion. Moreover, the values of fitting degree (R 2 ) for the Peppas-Sahlin model were always higher than those of the Korsmeyer-Peppas model [31]. These studies, however, only provide a preliminary prediction guide for the swelling behavior for such HNBR/EPDM composites.…”