Evaluation of the barrier and mechanical characteristics of bromo‐butyl rubber‐containing blends for use in inner liner of automotive tires

Abstract One of the best elastomers for the inner liner of a tire is brominated butyl rubber (BIIR). On the other hand, cutting‐edge automobile technologies call for BIIR with enhanced curing, mechanical, and barrier qualities. Consequently, in this investigation, BIIR blends were created with different elastomers that have similar permeability qualities of BIIR but have improved physical properties. Elastomeric blends of BIIR with epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), and polyepichlorohydrin rubber (CO) were prepared using a melt mixing procedure that could be scaled up for commercial use. The crosslinking behavior, physical, morphological, and barrier characteristics of the developed blends were assessed. The crosslinking properties of new blends revealed a 100% improvement in torque difference, indicating superior cocurability of them with other general‐purpose rubbers used in tire in comparison to the reference BIIR sample. It was also found that the newly developed blends have enhanced mechanical qualities without sacrificing the air impermeability of BIIR, which in turn gives the capacity to withstand high air pressures and thereby a decrease in rolling resistance.