Properties of Re-Vulcanized Waste EPDM/EPDM Rubber Blends with Different Ratios of ZDMA

This work focus on the utilization of waste ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) that undergo devulcanization process via microwave radiation and further were compounded with virgin EPDM as rubber blend with the various loadings of zinc dimethyl acrylate (ZDMA). The properties of the re-vulcanized rubber blends were studied. The addition of ZDMA into the rubber blends reduce 50% of its cure time with improved in tensile strength by ~76%. Their crosslink density were determined using swelling test and the network effected with crosslink density were identify by Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). From swelling test, the re-vulcanized EPDM rubber blends showed an increment in crosslink density with the addition of ZDMA. FTIR spectrum revealed that ZDMA interact at molecular level as the intensity of the absorption peaks change. Devulcanized EPDM shows its potential to be used with virgin materials as a rubber blend with improved properties. Furthermore, the addition of ZDMA in peroxide vulcanization system of EPDM rubber blend can be utilized as an alternative mixing ingredients to improve the vulcanized EPDM properties.