Cure Characteristics, Mechanical Properties, Abrasion Property And Thermal Properties Of Evm/Epm Blends Containing Flame Retardants

The curing behavior, mechanical properties, hot-air aging resistance, abrasion properties, thermal properties, etc., of EVM/EPM/APP (ammonium polyphosphate)/DPER (dipentaerythritol)/EG (expandable graphite) and EVM/EPM/ATH (aluminium trihydroxide) flame retarding systems in ethylene vinyl acetate rubber (EVM) blends with EPM (ethylene propylene rubber) were sequentially examined. For both flame retarding systems, the torque values increased with the content of EPM rubber and with the vulcanization time. As the content of EPM rubber increased, the scorch time became shorter, whereas the optimum cure time followed an increasing trend. For the EVM/EPM/APP/DPER/EG flame retarding system, as the content of EPM rubber increased, the hardness did not change, whereas the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased. A hot-air aging resistance test at 150 degrees C showed that the heat resistance decreased with the EPM content regardless of the kinds and contents of flame retardants. As the EPM content increased, the abrasion rate became higher and the abrasion resistance of the EVM/EPM/APP/DPER/EG flame retarding systems exceeded that of the EVM/EPM/ATH flame retarding counterparts. In comparison with the EVM/EPM/ATH flame retarding systems, the thermal stability of the EVM/EPM/APP/DPER/EG flame retarding system showed an increasing tendency.