Improved Automotive Fuel Resistance of Natural Rubber/Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene Blends by Blending Epoxidized Natural Polymer

The natural rubber (NR) was mixed with chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), due to the difference of polarity in NR and CSM made this blend incompatible and the third component was used. Epoxidzed natural rubber (ENR) was used as a third component. NR/CSM blended with the blend ratio of 50/50 was prepared by using a two-roll mill and vulcanization in a compression mold at 160 ̊C. The ENR content was varied from 1 to 7 phr. The curing characteristics, morphology, mechanical properties, and automotive fuel swelling were investigated. The results indicated that the cure time of the blend rubbers was shorter as adding ENR. The mechanical properties of the blend rubbers were not affected by ENR content. However, automotive fuel resistance of the blend rubbers was found to increase with adding ENR in rubber blend.