Influence of B30 palm-based biodiesel blends upon degradation of elastomers

Abstract

The use of biodiesel could affect the characteristic of elastomers. It may cause swelling degradation of strength and hardness of the elastomers. In this research, the influence of B30 palm-based biodiesel blends upon degradation of elastomers was investigated, especially elastomers used in the industrial gasket or seal materials, including ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and fluoroelastomer. The tests were carried out by immersing the elastomers in static B30 (30% biodiesel in diesel) at room temperature (27 – 30 oC) for 1007 h. The elastomeric strength was tested physically by measuring the swelling of mass and volume, hardness, and tensile strength at the 71, 167, 671, and 1007 h immersion time. The results show that fluoroelastomer has a more negligible degradation effect than ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM).