Epdm rubber based hyrophilic composites

Keywords: Rubber, EPDM, Hydrophilic, Water swellable rubber The main purpose of use of sealing gaskets is resistance to hydrostatic pressure and water thightness even in the worst case. EPDM rubber is generally used in sealing gaskets because of its good weather, ozone, aging resistance and good compression set properties. The gaskets used in the current situation suffer from performance loss over the years due to factors such as climatic conditions, exposure to pressurized water, humidity, thermal expansion, cracks that occur in construction structures over time. In order to prevent these performance losses, water-swellable sealing elements have started to attract attention in both academia and industry in recent years. Hydrophilic gaskets swell when they come into contact with water, preventing the water from reaching the gap between the structural elements and giving the gaskets high sealing properties. Superabsorbent polymers, which provide the hydrophilic structure, have the capacity to hold and absorb water in a very large volume compared to their own mass. In this study, hydrophilic EPDM rubber compounds developed for use in segment seals were investigated. The effects of the polymer type on the rheological, physico-mechanical, thermal properties and swelling properties of the compounds were investigated by keeping the EPDM compound recipe constant and using two different types of superabsorbent polymers at the same rate. According to the findings obtained as a result of the study, it was observed that the compounds swell up to 6 times their own volume in tap water. It was concluded that the swelling ratio for both compounds was highest in pure water, tap water and salt water, respectively.