The New Elastomeric Compounds Made of Butyl Rubber Filled with Phyllosilicates, Characterized by Increased Barrier Properties and Hydrophobicity and Reduced Chemical Degradation

Abstract

The aim of the study was to produce new elastomeric materials containing butyl rubber (IIR) filled with silica and phyllosilicates (vermiculite, montmorillonite, perlite or halloysite tubes) with enhanced hydrophobicity and barrier properties and reduced chemical degradation. It was found that the filler type had a significant impact on the degree of cross-linking of butyl rubber and the properties of its vulcanizates. The highest degree of cross-linking and the highest mechanical strength were achieved for IIR composites filled with Arsil with perlite or halloysite tubes. The highest surface hydrophobicity (119°) was confirmed for the IIR vulcanizates with Arsil and montmorillonite. All tested samples showed high barrier properties because both the gas diffusion rate coefficient and the permeability coefficient reached low values. Both unfilled and filled IIR vulcanizates retained chemical resistance in contact with methanol for 480 min. Hour-long contact of a polar solvent (methanol) with each of the vulcanizates did not cause material degradation, while the presence of a non-polar solvent (n-heptane) worsened the mechanical parameters by up to 80%. However, the presence of fillers reduced the chemical degradation of vulcanizates (in the case of cured IIR filled with Arsil and halloysite tubes by 40% compared to the composite without fillers).