Curing kinetics of styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene (SEBS) copolymer by peroxides in the presence of co-agents

In this study, styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene (SEBS) samples with different viscosities were cured using 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy) hexane (DBPH) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) separately in the presence of co-agents 2,4,6-tris-2-propenyloxy-1,3,5-triazin (TAC) or 1,3,5-trially-s-triazine-2,4,6,(1H, 3H, 5H)-trione (TAIC). Curing was carried out by means of a moving die rheometer device (MDR). Curing rate constants and energy of activation were obtained. Swelling and percent gelation values were evaluated by Sol-Gel analysis. Optimal curing conditions were determined to shed light on the curing characteristics of SEBS. It was shown that the rate of curing reaction of SEBS depended on the type of peroxides, co-agents and the viscosity of SEBS. Also it was shown that increased temperature enhanced the rate of curing.