Experimental and Numerical Studies on the Mechanical Characterization of Epdm/S-Sbr Nano Clay Composites

Abstract

The present work is to investigate the effect of nanoclay loading on the blends of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer (EPDM)/Silica-Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber (S-SBR) nanocomposites through experimental and Finite Element analysis (FEA) studies. The nanocomposite specimens were prepared according to ASTM standard using open-mill mixer processing. The physical and mechanical properties of EPDM/S-SBR nanocomposites were determined by measuring the tensile and tear properties, swelling properties, compression set, hardness and abrasion resistance properties. In the tensile tests for tensile strengthening evaluation, the tensile properties of EPDM/S-SBR nanocomposite specimens have been measured at different temperatures using universal testing machine. From the hardness test, EPDM/S-SBR nanocomposites appears to be a good material for high temperature applications than polymer/clay nanocomposites. As per standards of ASTM D-395 and ASTM D-471, compression set and swelling test specimens were prepared for determining the mechanical properties. Hardness, compression set and swelling resistance of nanocomposites increased due to increasing content of nanoclay as well as rebound resilience decreased. The failure modes of fractured surface are observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for EPDM/S-SBR nanocomposite specimens. From the FEA results, the use of EPDM/S-SBR nanocomposite specimens provide better results for Von Mises stresses which are much higher than EPDM/nano-silica composite specimens.