Abstract
A typical carbon black reinforced hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) was exposed to a mix of hydrocarbons (toluene, heptane and cyclohexane) at elevated temperatures and pressure in order to chemically age the material. The effect of this exposure on the mechanical properties is reported; the most significant change is a dramatic increase in tensile stiffness for specimens exposed at 160 °C for 12 weeks. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed changes in the glass transition behaviour of this material, with a general reduction in the magnitude of the glass transition with increasing ageing time. In addition, gravimetric studies of the swollen specimens after removal from the hydrocarbon mix showed that the more aged specimens underwent significantly slower drying rates compared to less aged specimens. These results may be explained by an increase in crosslink density in the materials being the main mechanism occurring during chemical ageing of these HNBR compounds.