The effect of Tinuvin derivatives as an ultraviolet (UV) stabilizer on EPDM rubber

Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) is one of the most widely used synthetic rubbers, especially in the automotive industry. Despite its many benefits, the chief weakness of EPDM has been the color change occurring in its products due to ultraviolet (UV) rays. It is recognized that UV energy causes the dissociation of bonds (mostly C-C and C-H) in EPDM materials as well as cracks and color changes on the surface. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Tinuvin derivatives widely used as UV stabilizers in the plastics industry on EPDM rubber. The EPDM rubber plates were prepared by adding Tinuvin-P, Tinuvin-213 and Tinuvin-234 as UV absorbers (UVAs) and Tinuvin-123 as hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) material at a ratio of 1.0 phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber) to an available EPDM formula. The effects of the Tinuvin derivatives were investigated by the internationally recognized Florida outdoor aging test. The surfaces of the EPDM plates were visually scrutinized and surface morphological changes were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry analyses. The results obtained showed that, unlike in the plastic industry, not all Tinuvin derivatives could be used as UV stabilizers for EPDM products. Of all the tested Tinuvin derivatives, the Tinuvin-123 compound was the most effective, indicating it to be suitable for use as a protective UV stabilizer for EPDM rubber applications.

[1]  J. Lemaire,et al.  Oxidation of rubbers analysed by HATR/IR spectroscopy , 1998 .

[2]  P. Perlstein.  The determination of light stabilisers in plastics by high-performance liquid chromatography , 1983 .

[3]  S. Nagataki,et al.  Durability of Building Materials and Components , 1993 .

[4]  L. Ye,et al.  Study on the long-term thermal-oxidative aging behavior of polyamide 6 , 2008 .

[5]  Sung‐Seen Choi,et al.  Analysis of Polymeric UV Absorber (Tinuvin 213) Using LDI-TOFMS: Solvent Effect in Sample Preparation , 2011 .

[6]  N. G. Mccrum,et al.  Principles Of Polymer Engineering , 1988 .

[7]  Peter W. Williams,et al.  The Effects of Matrix pH and Cation Availability on the Matrix‐assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Poly(methyl methacrylate) , 1996 .

[8]  Sunil P. Lonkar,et al.  Photo-stabilization of EPDM–clay nanocomposites: effect of antioxidant on the preparation and durability† , 2007 .

[9]  B. Haidar,et al.  Photooxidation of ethylene-propylene-diene/montmorillonite nanocomposites , 2005 .

[10]  N. S. Tomer,et al.  Photo-oxidation studies on polyurethane coating: effect of additives on yellowing of polyurethane , 2001 .

[11]  C. Nerin,et al.  Migration of Tinuvin P, a UV stabilizer, from PET bottles into fatty-food simulants , 1999 .

[12]  S. Kucuk.  Effect of Ultraviolet (UV) Stabilizers on Rubber-Based Automotive Sealing Profiles , 2016 .

[13]  B. Björkner,et al.  Contact allergy to the UV‐absorber Tinuvin P in plastics , 1989, Contact dermatitis.

[14]  B. Kumar,et al.  Photo-oxidation of EPDM/layered double hydroxides composites: Influence of layered hydroxides and stabilizers , 2007 .

[15]  J. Lacoste,et al.  Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Evaluation of Polymeric HALS in Ethylene‐Propylene‐Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) , 2005 .

[16]  G. R. Rugger.  Weathering of plastics , 1966 .

[17]  R. Hayakawa,et al.  Tinuvin® P in a spandex tape as a cause of clothing dermatitis , 1992, Contact dermatitis.

[18]  J. Lemaire,et al.  Photo-, thermal and natural ageing of ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) rubber used in automotive applications. Influence of carbon black, crosslinking and stabilizing agents , 2000 .

[19]  A. Bruchet,et al.  Investigation of antioxidants and UV stabilizers from plastics. Part I: Comparison of HPLC and SFC; preliminary SFC/MS study , 1990 .

[20]  H. Azeredo,et al.  The Efficiency of TBHQ, β‐carotene, Citric Acid, and Tinuvin 234® on the Sensory Stability of Soybean Oil Packaged in PET Bottles , 2003 .

[21]  D. Feldman,et al.  Polymer Weathering: Photo-Oxidation , 2002 .

[22]  J. Noordermeer,et al.  Effect of third monomer type and content on the UV stability of EPDM , 2005 .

[23]  M. Alagar,et al.  Development and characterisation of vinyloxyaminosilane grafted ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM-g-VOS) for engineering applications , 2002 .

[24]  R. Bateman,et al.  The Application of Matrix‐assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Combined with Collision‐induced Dissociation to the Analysis of Synthetic Polymers , 1996 .

[25]  F. Rahman,et al.  Degradation and protection of polyaniline from exposure to ultraviolet radiation , 2010 .

[26]  N. S. Tomer,et al.  Photooxidation of vulcanized EPDM/montmorillonite nanocomposites , 2006 .

[27]  O. Piringer,et al.  Migration of a UV stabilizer from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into food simulants , 2004, Food additives and contaminants.