Enhanced thermo-oxidative aging resistance of EPDM at high temperature by using synergistic antioxidants

In this work, zinc dimethacrylate (ZDMA) and 2-sulfur-benzimidazole (MB)/N-4(phenyl-phenyl)-maleimide (MC) were simultaneously used as synergistic antioxidants to improve the thermo-oxidative aging resistance of peroxide vulcanized ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) for its application at high temperature. For comparison purpose, the control sample without antioxidants, the traditional antioxidant package, the combined antioxidant MB/MC, and pure ZDMA were also investigated. The results showed that the crosslinking density of EPDM was only slightly decreased before aging by using the combined antioxidant MB/MC/ZDMA, and the increase in crosslinking density was much less than other antioxidants at the same aging time, indicating the largely improved aging resistance of EPDM. As a result, the change in mechanical properties was the lowest for EPDM with the combined antioxidant MB/MC/ZDMA at high temperature. Meanwhile, the results from structure analysis showed that the degree of oxidation of EPDM was much lower than other systems after aging at 180 °C for 216 h by using the combined antioxidant MB/MC/ZDMA. In addition, the surfaces of EPDM samples with MB/MC/ZDMA as synergistic antioxidants or the combined antioxidant MB/MC were still smooth after aging at 180 °C for 216 h, whereas severe cracks occurred for other antioxidative systems. These results suggest the good thermo-oxidative aging resistance of the synergistic antioxidant MB/MC/ZDMA. Finally, the synergistic antioxidative mechanism of MB/MC/ZDMA was carefully discussed.