Abstract: The curing characteristics of EPDM rubber with different ratio of glass beads over carbon black (GB/CB) were studied. With increasing GB/CB ratio, the scorch time of EPDM increased slightly, and torque decreased, the mechanical properties of 180℃ vulcanized rubber were better than those of 200℃. When micro glass bead was added, the 180℃ optimum cure time of the EPDM rubber was cut down about 1/2 while that for 200℃ was not affected. The temperature coefficient of vulcanization, i.e., the effect of temperature on the vulcanization rate was decreased obviously.

Key words: glass bead, carbon black, curing characteristics, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer