Effect of Degree of Crosslinking on Swelling and Mechanical Behaviour of Conventionally Vulcanised Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Membranes

Molecular transport of aromatic hydrocarbons through conventionally crosslinked SBR samples was conducted in the temperature interval of 25-65°C. The effect of crosslink density on the transport behaviour was thoroughly examined. The samples with high crosslink density exhibited the minimum solvent uptake. The mechanical properties of unswollen, swollen and deswollen SBR membranes were measured according to standard test methods. The effects of temperature and penetrant size on the transport process have also been studied. Values of the diffusivity and activation energy for diffusion were estimated from the diffusion data. Finally a comparison between theoretical and experimental diffusion results was carried out.