Filler Reinforced Elastomers Based on Functional Polyolefin Prepolymers

Abstract

Carboxy-telechelic polyethylene prepolymers were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 3-ethyl-1-cyclooctene in the presence of maleic acid followed by hydrogenation. Crosslinking of the prepolymer with a tri-functional crosslinker and fumed silica or carbon black filler yielded polyethylene elastomers with enhanced mechanical properties as compared to the unfilled versions. The tensile strength, modulus and tear strength of the elastomers are tunable by changing the filler content. Further study on the filler reinforcing mechanism suggests that both the polymer-filler interactions and the filler-filler interactions play key roles in the mechanical property enhancement.