Long-term stability is one of the most important requirements for sealing materials. Predictions made about service life are generally based on accelerated aging tests. In this article, the temperature stability of an EPDM rubber gasket is investigated using TGA-GC/MS.
Introduction
Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubbers are widely used as sealing materials. EPDM is also used in fire retardant composites, for protection against explosions, and to form a barrier against volatile substances. In addition, it exhibits high mechanical and thermal stability. Thermal degradation is one of the most important causes of wear in elastomers. Predictions about service life are usually based on socalled accelerated aging tests performed in oxidative atmospheres and at high temperatures. Engineering rubbers contain oils as plasticizers. These are gradually lost during service life or accelerated aging by migration into the environment or by decomposition. This affects the viscoelastic properties of the rubber, for example by reducing elasticity or increasing brittleness.
The aim of the work was to obtain information about the wear mechanisms in EPDM rubber seals using TGA-GC/MS analysis. Accelerated aging was performed at 170 °C under oxygen for a period of 5 hours.
Critical crystallization properties of a Zr-based glass-forming alloy used in additive manufacturing | Thermal Analysis Application No. UC 575 | Application published in METTLER TOLEDO Thermal Analysis UserCom 57
