Investigation of the availability of bio-based EPDM rubber instead of petroleum-derived EPDM with peroxide and sulfur vulcanization systems

Rubber materials used in many areas of daily life such as hoses, bellows, door-window seals, tread, windshield wipers, and gaskets, especially in the automotive sector, are divided into two groups as natural (NR) and synthetic rubbers. Development studies are carried out on EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer), which is a synthetic rubber. Ethylene component in EPDM is obtained from petroleum, which has fossils and which is from fossils and limited resources. Bio-based EPDM rubber is produced by obtaining the ethylene component from the ethanol found in sugar cane. In this thesis, the availability of bio-based EPDM polymer instead of the standard EPDM polymer used in rubber recipes was investigated with two different vulcanization systems. Keltan 8550, Keltan 5470 C, Keltan 8550 ECO and Keltan 5470 ECO polymers developed and produced by Arlanxeo company were used. Rubber compounds were prepared with two different vulcanization systems as sulfur and peroxide. Sulfur compounds were examined by rheological, physical, and aging tests according to DIN 73411-2A, peroxide compunds according to the conditions and limits of DIN 73411-2B. As a result, it has been proven experimentally that bio-based EPDM can be used in both sulfur and peroxide vulcanization instead of standard EPDM and that peroxide compounds are successful in all tests specified in the DIN 73411-2B specification.