EPDM rubber

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EPDM rubber

EPDM rubber
Rubber

Natural rubber is an elastomer?an Elasticity_ hydrocarbon polymer?that was originally derived from a milky colloidal suspension, or latex , found in the sap of some plants....
(ethylene propylene diene M-class rubber) is an elastomer

Elastomer

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Encyclopedia

Elastomer

An elastomer is a polymer with the property of elasticity. The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, and is preferred when referring to vulcanization....
which is characterized by wide range of applications.The E refers to Ethylene, P to Propylene, D to diene and M refers to its classification in ASTM standard D-1418. The “M” class includes rubbers having a saturated chain of the polymethylene type. The diene(s) currently used in the manufacture of EPDM rubbers are DCPD (dicyclopentadiene), ENB (ethylidene norbornene) and VNB (vinyl norbornene).

The ethylene content is around 45% to 75%. The higher the ethylene content the higher the loading possibilities of the polymer, better mixing and extrusion. During peroxide curing these polymers give a higher crosslink density compared with their amorphous counterpart. The amorphous polymer are also excellent in processing. This is very much influenced by their molecular structure. The diene content can vary between 2.5wt% up to 12wt%

Usage

EPDM rubber is used in vibrators and seal

Seal (mechanical)

A mechanical seal is a device which helps join systems or mechanisms together by preventing leakage , containing pressure, or excluding contamination....
s; glass-run channel; radiator

Radiator

Radiators are heat exchangers used to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of cooling and heating. The majority of radiators are constructed to function in automobiles, buildings, and electronics....
, garden and appliance hose; tubing

Tubing

Tubing may refer to:*Tubing , flexible hose or pipe *Tubing , the act of riding an Tire#Inner_tube*hollow structural section*plumbing tube used in domestic water systems...
; washers

Washer (mechanical)

A washer is a thin plate with a hole that is normally used to distribute the load of a screw. Other uses are as a spacer, spring , wear pad, preload indicating device, and locking device....
; belt

Belt (mechanical)

A Belt is a looped strip of flexible material, used to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts. They may be used as a source of motion, to efficiently Transmission , or to track relative movement....
s; electrical insulation

Electrical insulation

An insulator, also called a dielectric, is a material that resists the flow of electric current. An insulating material has atoms with tightly bonded valence electrons....
, and speaker cone surrounds. It is also used as a medium for water resistance in high-voltage polymeric cable jointing installations, roofing membrane, geomembranes, rubber mechanical goods, plastic impact modification, thermoplastic

Thermoplastic

A thermoplastic is a polymer that turns to a liquid when heated and freezes to a very glassy state when cooled sufficiently. Most thermoplastics are high-molecular mass polymers whose Chain s associate through weak Van der Waals forces ; stronger dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding ; or even stacking of aromatic rings ....
, vulcanizates

Vulcanization

Vulcanization refers to a specific curing process of rubber involving high heat and the addition of sulfur or other equivalent curatives. It is a chemical process in which polymer molecules are linked to other polymer molecules by atomic bridges composed of sulfur atoms or carbon to carbon bonds....
, as a motor oil

Motor oil

Motor oil, or engine oil, is an oil used for lubrication of various internal combustion engines. While the main function is to lubricate moving parts, motor oil also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing and engine cooling by carrying heat away from the moving parts....
additive

Additive

Additive may refer to:* Additive function, a function which preserves addition* Additive inverse, an arithmetic concept* Additive category, a Preadditive_category with finite Biproduct...
, pond liner

Pond liner

An impermeable geomembrane used for water retention, including the lining of lakes, garden ponds and artificial streams in parks and gardens. Pond liners need to be protected from sharp objects below the liner and from being punctured by any objects in the water body....
, electrical cable-jointing, RV roofs, and chainmail

Chainmail

Mail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh.The word chainmail is of relatively recent coinage, having been in use only since the 1700s; prior to this it was referred to simply as mail....
applications.

EPDM exhibits satisfactory compatibility with fireproof hydraulic fluids, ketones, hot and cold water, and alkalis, and unsatisfactory compatibility with most oils, gasoline, kerosene, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, halogenated solvents, and concentrated acids.

The main properties of EPDM are its outstanding heat, ozone and weather resistance. The resistance to polar substances and steam are also good. It has excellent electrical properties. It has the ability to retain light colour.

Typical properties of EPDM vulcanisates are given below. EPDM can be compounded to meet specific properties to a limit depending first on the EPDM polymers available, then the processing and curing method(s) employed. EPDMs are available in a range of molecular weights (indicated in terms of Mooney viscosity ML(1+4)@125°C), varying levels of ethylene, third monomer and oil content.

Mechanical Properties
Hardness, Shore A	40 - 90
Tensile Strength, Ultimate	25 MPa
Density	Can be compounded from 0.90 to >2.00 gcm-³
Abrasion resistance	450 mm3

Thermal Properties
CTE, linear 68°F 875µm/m-°C
Maximum Service Temperature, Air	100-120 °C
Minimum Service Temperature, Air	-54 °C
Glass Temperature	-54 °C

Common Application

Vehicles

EPDM rubber is commonly used in weatherseals on all vehicles. This includes door seals, window seals, trunk seals, and sometimes hood seals. Frequently these seals are the source of noise due to movement of the door versus the car body. This is due to friction between the EPDM rubber and the mating surface (car painted sheet metal or glass). This can be alleviated using specialty coatings that are applied at the time of manufacture of the weatherseal, not as an aftermarket application. Such coatings can also greatly increase the chemical resistance of EPDM rubber. Some vehicle manufacturers such as General Motors also recommend a light application of silicone dielectric grease to weatherstripping to reduce noise.

Additionally, EPDM can be used as charge air tubing on turbo charged engines. More specifically, it can be used to connect the cold side of the charge air cooler(aka "intercooler") to the intake manifold.

Safety Equipment

EPDM is also commonly used as a material for the face seals of industrial respirators, most frequently chosen where the use of silicone must be avoided, typically in automotive paint spray environments.

Roofing

EPDM is used as a covering to waterproof roofs. It has the benefit that it does not pollute the runoff rainwater, which is of vital importance if the house owner wishes to use this water for personal sanitation/hygiene. Several houses equipped with rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Traditionally, rainwater harvesting has been practiced in arid and semi-arid areas, and has provided drinking water, domestic water, water for livestock, water for small irrigation and a way to increase ground water levels....
thus make use of this type of roofing.