The Study on Cure Characteristics and Physical Properties of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Blended with Recycled Nitrile Gloves (EPDM/NBRr) Z.Norhafizah 1, a , N. Z. Noriman 2, b , S. T. Sam 3, c , H. Ismail 4, d and M. F. Omar 5, e 1 Center of Excellence Geopolymer and Green Technology (CEGeoGTech), School of Materials Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), KompleksPengajianJejawi 2, 02600 Arau, Malaysia 2 School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Penang, Malaysia a hafizah909@gmail.com, b niknoriman@unimap.edu.my, c sam.sunting@gmail.com, d hanafi@eng.usm.my, e firdausomar@unimap.edu.my Keywords: EPDM, NBRr, cure characteristics, hardness, crosslink density. ABSTRACT Most of the polymeric materials blending together with recycled waste rubber powder attributed to the economical and processing advantages for product specification. Therefore, the effect of curing characteristics, hardness and crosslink density of ethylene propylene diene monomer/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (EPDM/NBRr) blends were studied. The EPDM/NBRr blends were prepared at four different compositions (95/5, 85/15, 75/25 and 65/35) with two different sizes (S1: 250-500µm and S2: 3-10cm) of NBRr. Results indicated that the scorch time t 2 , cure time t 90 , and maximum torque (MH) for both EPDM/NBRr (S1) and EPDM/NBRr (S2) decreased, but the minimum torque (ML) increased.The increase of NBRr content in EPDM/NBRr leads to the increase in hardness and consequently decreases the crosslinking density of the blends. The incorporation of 15phr of S1 recycled NBRr appeared to better overall properties. INTRODUCTION Every year, waste rubber generated has given serious environmental issues pollution. The increase of the waste has attracted some researcher’s interest on how to convert waste and used rubber into processable form [1]. Blending of two or more different rubber together has been widely implemented in rubber industry in order to obtain superior properties of final product. It is believed that blending is an easy and cost effective way to create new combination properties of recycled rubber waste and the purpose is to improve the physical, mechanical as well as modify processing characteristics [1, 2]. NBR is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile which were made from emulsion process as hot and cold polymer. It is suitable in making some products for automotive and oil industries such as oil seals, pipe protectors and blowout preventers due to its properties which is good resistance to nonpolar oils, fats and solvents [2]. Recently, N.Z.Noriman et. al [2] has reported the study of SBR/vNBR and SBR/rNBR blends. The result obtained that the rNBR exhibited better properties up to 15 phr compared to vNBR. The interfacial adhesion of rNBR on SBR matrix was stronger than vNBR/SBR. The study made by N.Suma et. al [3], on the precuring of EPDM phase in NR/EPDM and butyl phase in NR/Butyl observed that the mechanical properties in both the phases and in the interface are remarkably improved by precuring. In the present work, the investigation on the effect of different particle sizes of recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) and blend ratios on curing characteristics, hardness and crosslink density of ethylene propylene diene monomer/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (EPDM/NBRr) were carried out. Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 754-755 (2015) pp 120-124 Submitted: 06.01.2015 © (2015) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Accepted: 06.01.2015 doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.754-755.120 All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP, www.ttp.net. (ID: 103.1.70.86-11/02/15,14:22:46)