Abstract
Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is an important polymer extensively exploited in plasturgy. However, relatively few studies have been carried out to predict the lifetime of EPDM in different climatic conditions particularly, thermo-oxidation. Based on this realization, the aim of the present work was to develop mathematical models for predicting the lifetime of EPDM elastomers, used for insulation of electric cables. The kinetic degradation of EPDM insulators, by monitoring change in a physical property (elongation at break test “ℇr”), was studied by following its thermo-oxidative aging (70, 90, 110 and 130 ° C in air circulating oven). The multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA), solved by the Cholesky method, was the mathematical approach developed in the modeling of the kinetic degradation. In this study, we used two insulators materials when the first insulator contained an amorphous EPDM and the second contained a semi-crystalline EPDM. The results showed that the polynomial models developed to predict elongation at break were reliable for both insulators under thermo-oxidation. The half-life times predicted by the mathematical models was found to be statistically significant (p< 0.05). In conclusion, the mathematical models developed in our study could be used confidently to predict the lifetime of EPDM elastomers.
Highlights
The ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubbers, obtained by polymerization, are synthetic copolymers of the elastomer family [1]
In view of the deficiencies concerning work carried out in past on degradation of EPDM elastomer, the objective of this work was to demonstrate the influence of thermal aging on the kinetic degradation of EPDM used for insulation of electric cables by predicting half-life times
The effect of thermo-oxidation at 70, 90, 110 and 130 ° C on the mechanical properties of EPDM insulators was evaluated by measuring the change in the percent Ɛr as a function of the exposure time
Summary
The ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubbers, obtained by polymerization, are synthetic copolymers of the elastomer family [1]. They are composed mainly of ethylene, propylene and a small proportion of diene. Due to their outstanding resistance to aging (thermal, atmospheric, radiative), EPDM elastomers are widely used in plasturgy [2]. They are used mainly for joints and insulation (car, roofing, cables, etc.). In contrast, there appears to be relatively little work carried out on the effects of thermal aging (thermo-oxidation) on the kinetic degradation of EPDM [10,11,12]
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