Abstract
The process of cure of ethylene–propylene diene monomer rubbers is described by considering the heat conduction through the mould and through the rubber and also the heat generated by the overall cure reaction. The kinetics of the heat evolved from this cure reaction have been determined by calorimetry by assuming an Arrhenius' law for the temperature dependence as well as the cure enthalpy. The cure enthalpy was found to be proportional to the percentage peroxide within the 2–10% range, while kinetic parameters such as the pre-exponential term and the activation energy did not vary with the percentage peroxide. Thus the state of cure, evaluated on a thermodynamic and kinetic basis, can be obtained at any time and position in the sheet.
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