| Abstract: | Fluororubber vulcanizate powder (FVP) obtained from fluororubber based on tetrafluoroethylene/propylene/vinylidene fluoride terpolymer by mechanical grinding exists in a highly aggregated chain‐like structure. X‐ray photoelectron spectros‐copy (XPS) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy studies show that there are no chemical change on the rubber surface following mechanical grinding of the fluororubber vulcanizate after heat aging at 200°C for 10 days. The incorporation of FVP as a filler in the fluororubber compound results in a marginal increase of Mooney viscosity, Mooney scorch time and shear viscosity. While tensile strength, modulus and hardness marginally increase on addition of FVP into the fluororubber compound, tear strength decreases. Rhemetric studies show that FVP alone is susceptible to further crosslinking in the presence of a curing agent. Dynamic mechanical spectra reveal that the glass to rubber transition temperature shifts higher by the addition of FVP into the fluororubber compounds. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show uniform dispersion of FVP particles into the rubber matrix. |
