Determination of ethylene-propylene rubber in crosslinked blends with 1,4-polybutadiene

Crosslinked blends of ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) and 1,4-polybutadiene (BR) were investigated by metathesis degradation of the BR component; the percentage of EPR was determined by weighing the polymeric residue. The metathesis reaction was carried out with an excess of 1-octene in the presence of the catalyst WCl₆/(CH₃)₄Sn. In crosslinking with dicumyl peroxide, the best results were obtained with 10 to 30 wt.-% of EPR and medium crosslinking degrees. Analysis of sulphur vulcanizates (received with the accelerator N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazyl sulphenamide) gave tolerable results only for low sulphur contents (1.5 wt.-%). Determination of EPR was also possible in non-crosslinked blends with BR.