Simulation of crosslink and graft mechanism of hydrogenated-NBR/zinc di-methacrylate composites by moving die rheometer

Abstract This paper studies the crosslink and graft mechanism of hydrogenated-NBR/zinc di-methacrylate (HNBR/ZDMA) composites. The experiments to determine the rate constants of crosslink and graft reaction formulas are from Moving Die Rheometer (MDR) data. Comparison with experimental data and the solution of simultaneous ordinary differential equations for the crosslink and graft reactions are performed. Genetic algorithm optimization of the reaction rate constants allowed for simulation of crosslinking and graft reaction process. This simulation predicts that the HNBR/peroxide cure system will contain 0.1052-mole/l crosslink between matrix HNBR polymer at 2 phr.-peroxide concentration. The crosslink concentration of 0.1052-mole/l is composed of 0.0308-mole/l-addition reaction and 0.0744-mole/l-termination reaction. Moreover, the HNBR/ZDMA cure system contains 0.0148-mole/l graft of poly-ZDMA to HNBR and 0.0903-mole/l crosslink between matrix HNBR polymer at a 2 phr.-peroxide concentration.