Correlation Between UV/Condensation and Xe Artificial Weathering Tests on Ethylene–Propylene–Diene Monomer Rubber

Abstract

Artificial weathering tests on ethylene-propylenediene monomer (EPDM) rubber were conducted in a fluorescent UV/condensation weathering equipment (E-UV environment) and a xenon lamp light exposure and weathering equipment (E-Xe environment) for different time periods. The correlation between E-UV and E-Xe environment was investigated by using crosslink density as criteria. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to evaluate the thermal stability of EPDM. The fracture morphology was monitored by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the correlation between E-UV and E-Xe environments can be expressed as: t Xe ¼ À7:4818 þ 1:1837t XeÀUV ; where the correlation coefficient R is 0.9856. The thermal stability of EPDM did not deteriorate dramatically on exposure to the two artificial weathering environments. An oxidation layer was formed after 90 days of exposure.

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