Polymer Mixtures and Co-Vulcanizates Produced Therefrom

This invention relates to vulcanisable polymer mixtures of ethene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and substantially saturated elastomers containing nitrile groups, and to the co-vulcanisates produced therefrom by radical cross-linking.

EVA is a rubber which is resistant to weathering, chemicals, steam and hot water, and which exhibits a slight swelling in hydrocarbons. It is obtained by copolymerising ethylene, vinyl acetate and optionally acrylic acid esters, and it may be cross-linked radically using peroxides or by means of high-energy radiation.

EVA rubber is described in, for example German Offenlegungsschrift Nos. 1,495,767 and 2,437,490.

Substantially saturated elastomers containing nitrile groups are obtained, for example, by hydrogenating nitrile rubbers (butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers). The vulcanisates are distinguished by a considerable strength.

Elastomers of this type are known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,637 and from German Offenlegungsschrift Nos. 2,539,132 and 2,913,992.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that it is possible to produce homogeneous mixtures from EVA and substantially saturated elastomers containing nitrile groups, which mixtures have surprising properties and may be crosslinked radically to produce co-vulcanisates. It has been found that the densities of the mixtures are surprisingly higher than the average density calulated from the densities of the components.

Thus, the present invention provides mixtures of (a) from 95 to 5% by weight, preferably from 60 to 10% by weight of EVA rubber; and (b) from 5 95% by weight, preferably from 40 to 90% by weight, of elastomers which contain nitrile groups and have from 25 to 140 nitrile-nitrogen atoms per 1000 carbon atoms and less than 35 double bonds, preferably less than 12 double bonds, and in particular less than 2 double bonds per 1000 carbon atoms; and (c) conventional mixture ingredients, the percentages relating to the sum total of (a) and (b).

This invention also provides co-vulcanisates which are obtained by radical cross-linking of the above-mentioned mixtures.

EVA rubber preferably consists of 25 to 70% by weight of ethene, from 30 to 75% by weight of vinyl acetate and from 0 to 45% by weight of an acrylic acid ester, in particular an acrylic acid-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl ester, preferably from 70 to 50% by weight of ethene and from 30 to 50% by weight of vinyl acetate. The molecular weights M.sub.w are from 10,000 to 1,000,000.

The starting materials for the production of the substantially saturated elastomers containing nitrile groups are preferably nitrile rubbers of from 10 to 50% by weight of (meth)acrylonitrile, from 50 to 90% by weight of a conjugated diene having from 4 to 9 carbon atoms and from 0 to 30% by weight of a third monomer, for example (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid alkylester or vinyl ester which are hydrogenated, for example according to DE-OS No. 1,795,819.

The nitrile rubbers preferably consist of from 48 to 15% by weight of acrylonitrile and from 52 to 85% by weight of butadiene or isoprene.

Conventional ingredients of a rubber mixture are known to those skilled in the art. These are, for example fillers, plasticizers, anti-agers, processing auxiliaries, pigments, acid acceptors and vulcanisation chemicals, peroxides being used for the vulcanisation of the rubber mixture of this invention as long as vulcanisation is not effected by radiation cross-linking.

Suitable peroxides include the following, for example: dialkyl peroxides, ketal peroxides, aralkyl peroxides, peroxyethers and peroxyesters. The following are preferably used: di-tert.-butylperoxide, bis-(tert.-butylperoxyisopropyl-benzene), dicumylperoxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert.-butylperoxy)-hexane, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert.-butylperoxy)-hexene-(3), 1,1-bis(tert.-butylperoxy)3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, benzoylperoxide, tert.-butylcumylperoxide and tert.-butylperbenzoate.

The quantities of peroxide are from 1 to 15% by weight, preferably from 2 to 6% by weight, based on the solid rubber.

High-energy electromagnetic radiation is included in particular as the high-energy radiation for cross-linking; for example X-rays or .gamma.-rays and electron beams.

The co-vulcanisates exhibit good mechanical properties, a good oil resistance, an effective flame resistance and a low smoke density when ignited. They are suitable, for example for the production of cable sheaths and conveyor belt covers, in particular in areas of use which impose specific requirements, such as a resistance to swelling in oil and/or water.

The following mixtures are produced in a 1,3 liter laboratory kneader at 30.degree. C., with a degree of filling of 100%, at 30 r.p.m. and under a stamping pressure of 6 bars.

The mixture is vulcanised at 190.degree. C. for 5 minutes. The following values were found: