Effects of Artificial Weathering on Properties and Structure of Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer(EPDM)

The effects of artificial weathering on the properties and structure of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer(EPDM) were studied through spectrophotometer,gloss meter,microscopy,computer-controlled tensile testing and specular reflectance Fourier transform infra red(SR-FTIR) spectroscopy.The results showed that with increasing the aging time,the surface of EPDM turned to yellow and lighter and the gloss increased in the initial stage of aging,and then the gloss decreased.The tensile strength increased with increase of crosslink density.FTIR spectra implied the formation of carbonyl groups in the artificial weathering environment.