Abstract

Influence of Dynamic Vulcanization Technique on the Permeation Property of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber/Poly Vinyl Chloride Composite Membranes

Author(s): C. P. Mohamed Kutty, M. Sunil Kumar and M. Jahfar

Composite membranes based on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and poly vinyl chloride (PVC) has been prepared by dynamically and statically vulcanization techniques. The mechanical property and organic solvent vapour permeation characteristics of two composites, one statically cross linked and the other dynamically cross linked EPDM/PVC composite membranes has been measured. The dynamically vulcanized membrane exhibited better mechanical and enhanced barrier properties compared to the corresponding statically vulcanized sample. The polymer composition strongly affects the final membrane properties and can be used for optimizing conflicting properties like permeability and mechanical stability. The experimental observations have been correlated with the phase morphology of the membranes using scanning electron micrographs.