Abstract
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber/zinc dimethacrylate (ZDMA)-samarium methacrylate (Sm(MA)3) rare earth complex as seals were prepared via in-situ formation of Sm(MA)3 to partially replace the ZDMA. Compared with neat EPDM, incorporation of ZDMA-Sm(MA)3 improved the curing activity of EPDM and a multiple crosslinking network formed with high crosslinking density. Improvement of the interfacial interaction facilitated distribution of the ZDMA-Sm(MA)3 in the matrix and resulted in an increase of the mechanical properties of the composites compared with neat EPDM. In addition, partially replacing the ZDMA with Sm(MA)3 significantly enhanced the durable sealing resilience performance of the composites by improving their free radical scavenging ability and inhibiting the degradation, oxidation and crosslinking reaction of the EPDM during stress-thermal oxidation aging.