Mechanical, flame‐retarding, and creep‐recovery proprieties of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer enhanced with nano‐hydroxide for undersea tunnel sealing gasket

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study investigates the mechanical, flame‐retarding, and creep‐recovery proprieties of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) composites. The EPDM composites are filled with different contents of nano‐Mg(OH)2 (NMH) or nano‐Al(OH)3 (NATH). To examine the effect of contents of NMH (or NATH) and seawater immersion, mechanical tests are conducted and the limiting oxygen index (LOI) method was applied. Creep‐recovery tests are then conducted to obtain the creep resistance property of EPDM composites with contents of NMH (or NATH). The microstructure of EPDM composites is investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that NMH (or NATH) can enhance the flame‐retarding, creep resistance, and hardness properties, whereas tensile strength and elongation at break increase at first and then decrease with increasing content of NMH (or NATH). The Findley power law and the Weibull distribution function show good correspondence with the results of creep‐recovery tests for EPDM composites. Furthermore, SEM results show good interfaces between nanoparticles and the matrix implying the mechanism of the above results.
In this study, different contents of nano‐Mg(OH)2 or nano‐Al(OH)3 were applied to reinforce the key mechanical properties (i.e. hardness, elongation at break), creep resistance, and flame‐retarding properties of the EPDM composites for undersea tunnel sealing gasket. Meanwhile, the effect of gasket working environment (i.e. seawater immersion) on its mechanical and flame retardant properties was also considered. Due to good interfaces between nano‐particles and the matrix, the above properties of the EPDM composites could be improved.