Bonding of Butyl and Nitrile Rubber by in situ Copolymer Formation
Abstract We summarize and conclude the following: 1. The T-peel adhesion between uncrosslinked layers of IIR and NBR is rate and temperature dependent. Failure is interfacial at low rates; bulk cohesive tearing of the rubber occurs at intermediate rates, while interfacial failure returns at high rates. 2. Adhesion data could be reduced to mastercurves with experimentally determined shift factors which were in reasonable agreement with those calculated from the universal WLF equation with a Tg=−69°C. 3. At the lowest test rates, peel specimens containing in situ-formed copolymer had lower strength than those without the copolymer. This is probably due to the easy slippage of the segments of the low-molecular-weight copolymer in this regime. 4. At intermediate rates, in situ copolymer had no effect on peel strength; specimens failed by bulk cohesive tearing of rubber, whether or not the copolymer was present. 5. At high rates, peel specimens containing the copolymer exhibited improved strengths. The behavior is consistent with previous results on the autohesion of elastomers. Interdiffused chains of relatively low molecular weight are only capable of providing strong adhesion when the test speed is sufficiently rapid.