Kat Industrial Consultants Pvt Ltd

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber, also named as EPDM in short, is the polymer of ethylene and propylene. Large scale commercial production began in 1963 and the current overall global consumption of EFPM are 800,000 tons per year. EPDM is polyolefine - categorized and has excellent performance of vulcanization and its gravity is the lowest among all rubbers.

These are radon copolymers of the two hydrocarbons ethylene and propylene with the ethylene varying from 40 to 70% by weight. This produces a saturated rubber, EPM, which has to be vulcanized with peroxide systems. Small quantities of a third monomer are, therefore added to produce ethylene-propylene terpolymers (EPDM) which can be vulcanized with sulphur in the usual way. Both types have outstanding resistance to sunlight, ozone and all forms of aging and weathering; together with a capacity to accept large loadings of extender oil and fillers without undue loss of physical properties. So far, their use in tyres has been limited mainly due to processing difficulties, although blends with up to 20% of EPDM have been successfully adopted by some manufacturers, particularly for sidewalls. Recent developments indicate more extensive use of EPDM in tyres. Non-tyre applications for EPDM include automobile components, roller coverings, acid hose, general building applications, reservoir linings and roofing sheet. Another important application for EPM and EPDM is in electric cable insulation.

By the application of heat and chemical agents followed  by intense mechanical working to ground vulcanized scrap or worn out rubber  tires,  tubes and waste rubber  articles,  a  substantial regeneration  on  devulcanisation of the rubber compound  to  its original  plastic state is effected, thus permitting the  product to be compounded, processed and revulcanised.  There are several types  of  rubber  powder made in different ways.   They  may  be lightly  vulcanized  and may contain  appreciable  quantities  of anti-agglomerating  agents  to prevent massing on  storage.   The trend now-a-days is towards automation in production of  rubber goods  during handling, mixing and processing.  The powder forms of  rubber is very easy to be handled.  The advantages of  powder processing  have  been  recognized  and  include  (a)  rapid  and inexpensive  mixing  ;  (b)  flexibility  in  compounding. Powder handling  equipments  are used in plastics industry  also;  hence those  equipments  can be utilised for  compounding  of  powdered rubber  before actual processing ; thus integration  of  the  two industries can be done without much extra capital outlay.

By  the application of heat and chemical agents followed  by intense mechanical working to ground vulcanized scrap or worn out rubber  tires,  tubes and waste rubber  articles,  a  substantial regeneration  on  devulcanisation of the rubber compound  to  its original  plastic state is effected, thus permitting the  product to be compounded, processed and revulcanised.  There are  several types  of  rubber  powder made in different ways.   They  may  be lightly  vulcanized  and may contain  appreciable  quantities  of anti-agglomerating  agents  to prevent massing on  storage.   The trend  now-a-days is towards automation in production  of  rubber goods  during handling, mixing and processing.  The powder  forms of  rubber is very easy to be handled.  The advantages of  powder processing  have  been  recognized  and  include  (a)  rapid  and inexpensive  mixing  ;  (b)  flexibility  in  compounding. Powder handling  equipments  are used in plastics industry  also;  hence those  equipments  can be utilised for  compounding  of  powdered rubber  before actual processing ; thus integration  of  the  two industries can be done without much extra capital outlay.