Effect of Blowing Agent and Polyethylene Glycol on Cellular Structure and Mechanical Properties of Chloroprene Rubber

In this paper the closed-cell sponge of chloroprene rubber(CR) were produced by foaming agent Azodicarbonamide (AC) and Oxybis (benzene sulfonyl) hydrazide (OBSH). The blend blowing agent AC/OBSH was more effective than the pure AC as it could produce chloroprene foam with greater cell porosity, more uniform and better cell distributions. The CR foam prepared with AC/OBSH had better tensile strength and tear strength than pure AC, but higher Shore C hardness. The Polyethyene glycol (PEG) modified Zinc Oxide (ZnO) could accelerate curing and foam process simultaneously. Increase the content of PEG, CR foam has bigger swell ratio, smaller cell size, and better softness.