Natural rubber (NR) and bromo-isobutylene-isoprene rubber (BIIR) were compounded with other formulation chemicals through polymer blending via a mechanical mixing method. After rubber vulcanization by hot-press compression molding, the cure characteri...
Natural rubber (NR) and bromo-isobutylene-isoprene rubber (BIIR) were compounded with other formulation chemicals through polymer blending via a mechanical mixing method. After rubber vulcanization by hot-press compression molding, the cure characteristics, mechanical properties, and ozone resistance of the NR/BIIR blends were measured. As the BIIR content increased, the maximum torque of the blends decreased, while the optimum cure time and scorch time tended to increase. Furthermore, the hardness of the blends increased with increasing BIIR content, reaching the maximum value at 75 wt% BIIR, and decreased with a further increase in the BIIR loading. The tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with an increase in the BIIR content, reaching the minimum value at 75 wt% BIIR, and increased with a further increase in the BIIR content. In the ozone resistance test, cracks were not generated when the BIIR content was more than 75 wt%.