Network Structure in Oil-Extended Rubbers - Effect of Chain Entanglements

4 Network Structure in Oil-Extended Rubbers - Effect of Chain Entanglements 

Knowledge of the physical state of oil in oil-extended rubbers and their vulcanisates is of great importance, because the processing of oil-extended rubbers and the mechanical properties of such rubbers are strongly affected by the rubbers oil content and the type of oil concerned. 

Up to 400 K (127 °C), the fraction of the component with a long decay time was smaller than the concentration of oil hydrogen in the oil-extended rubber. Apparently, a small fraction of oil molecules shows a molecular mobility comparable with that of EPDM chains. The fraction of these physically trapped oil molecules decreased with an increasing temperature, and 

1) the mesh size of network holes with respect to the size and shape of oil molecules, 

5 Network Structure in Filled Rubbers - Rubber-Filler Interface and the Structure of the Physical Network 

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