Stabilizing the Sealing Performance of EPDM by the Incorporation of a ZIF-8 Network

Ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber (EPDM) is commonly used as a gas-tight sealing material in electrical equipment. Factors such as media exposure, thermal oxidative stress, and abrasion frequently cause deterioration of EPDM’s mechanical properties, significantly compromising the reliability of electrical equipment. Traditional activator ZnO provides limited enhancement to the properties of EPDM. The reaction between Zn2+ on the surface of zinc oxide interacts with the accelerator during curing of rubber, forming zinc chelates, which interact with sulfur to form zinc polysulfide complexes. But the release of zinc complexes has adverse effects on humans and ecosystems. To reduce ZnO usage and further improve the performance of EPDM in terms of mechanical properties and aging resistance, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is developed as a multifunctional additive in this work. Mechanical testing demonstrates that the incorporation of ZIF-8 enhances the mechanical performance and resistance to thermal oxidative aging of EPDM. Crosslink density testing, FTIR, and XPS show that ZIF-8 promotes the crosslinking reaction during rubber curing, resulting in improved mechanical performance for EPDM. Analysis of crosslinking density testing and SEM images shows that EPDM-ZIF-8 composite exhibits a slower increase in crosslinking density during thermal oxidative aging. TGA results indicate that ZIF-8 enhances the thermal stability of EPDM, which leads to improved aging resistance properties. This study provides new insights for the design and development of rubber composite materials, offering a reliable solution to the challenge of seal failure in electrical equipment.