Ethylene propylene copolymer (EPM), or a terpolymer with a diene (EPDM), is a type of synthetic rubber, which is characterised by a wide range of applications. The ‘E’ letter refers to ethylene, ‘P’ to propylene and ‘D’ to diene and ‘M’ refers to a kind of monomer with respect to its classification in ASTM standard D-1418. The M class includes rubbers having a saturated chain of the polymethylene type.

EPDM rubber, therefore, is a terpolymer of ethylene,propylene and a diene-component and the Dienes currently used in the manufacture of EPDM rubbers are dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), ethylidene norbornene (ENB) and vinyl norbornene (VNB). Hexadiene (HD) is rarely being used in making EPDM these days.

The ethylene and propylene monomers combine to form a chemically saturated, stable polymer backbone providing excellent heat, oxidation, ozone and weather aging. A third, nonconjugated diene monomer is terpolymerized in a controlled manner to maintain a saturated backbone and place the reactive unsaturation in a side chain available for vulcanization or polymer modification chemistry.

The two most widely used diene termonomers are primarily ethylidene norbornene (ENB) followed by dicyclopentadiene (DCPD).Each diene incorporates with a different tendency for introducing long chain branching or polymer side chains that influence processing and rates of vulcanization by sulfur or peroxide cures. Generally, ENB type is better heat resistant than DCPD type. Peroxide cure EPDM, boosted with coagents provide better heat resistant than sulphur/accelerator cured EPDM.

This polymer is the most water resistant rubber available, and this resistance is maintained to high temperatures (up to 180°C in steam with peroxide cured compound). The highest temperature resistance is achieved by using peroxide cured grades. It is thus used extensively under water cables (sea water as well). Before EPDM, Chloprene rubber (CR) was extensively used wherever weather resistance properties were important. Upon discovery of EPDM in 1963 , it quickly took over existing weather resistant market of Chloroprene rubber (CR).

Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) is one of the most widely used and highly-developing synthetic rubbers. EPDM business will reach US 6.9 b $ by end 1Q,2020. Currently, their total capacity is about 1.65m ton/ Yr. and it takes the third place in the world synthetic rubber consumption after styrene-butadiene and butadiene rubber. As of August 2019, there are 15 big companies in the world that produce EPDM.

In order to present a competitive landscape of the global EPDM market, key market players are witnessed as LANXESS AG (Germany), ExxonMobil Chemical (U.S.), Dow Elastomer (U.S.), Mitsui Chemical (Japan), Kumho Polychem (South Korea), Lion Copolymer (U.S.), Versalis (Italy), JSR Corporation (Japan), Jilin Chemical (China), SK Global Chemical (Japan), Nizhnekamsk Neftekhim Inc (Russia), and Sumitomo Chemical Company Ltd (Japan) have been profiled. With a huge number of EPDM manufacturers worldwide and with a number of different grades by each of these manufacturers, EPDM is one of the versatile elastomer in India now . EPDM has different grades in the industry based on :

• Mooney viscosity
• Type of diene content
• Percentage mole of diene content and
• Ethylene propylene ratio
• Bimodal Type

With current increase in EPDM uses , India now badly need EPDM manufacturing plant to protect its foreign currency. Another important application India need is compulsory application of EPDM based Roofing in rainy states to protect against damage of multistory buildings (Mumbai). EPDM has been used as a covering to waterproof roofing in western countries, Japan, China, Taiwan and countries in South East Asia. Major applications of EPDM are :

• Other than automobile glass-run channels, EPDM is also used in radiators, garden and appliance hose, tubing, pond liners, washers, belts, electrical insulation, vibrators, O-rings, solar panel heat collectors and speaker cone surrounds.
• It is also used as a medium for water resistance in electrical cable-jointing, geomembranes, rubber mechanical goods, plastic impact modification, thermoplastic etc.
• EPDM is used as blends in Butyl rubber for Inner-tube application.
• EPDM is used in PC side wall , black or white. Extensively used in color BC tyres for children.
• EPDM roofing is very popular in developed countries.
• With EPDM Roofing membranes rainwater harvesting is also very popular. EPDM roofing does not pollute the run-off rainwater.

Rubber roofing has the benefit that it does not pollute the runoff rain water. Water could be used for personal sanitation / gardenining / hygiene. White oil may be the best processing oil. They are manufactured in the form of calendared sheet and covered with a plastic such that its application on floor is easy upon removal of plastic and then they are applied in roof floor. EPDM rubber sheet can be installed either fully adhered, mechanically attached or ballasted, with the seams of the roofing system sealed with liquid adhesives or specially formulated tape. EPDM Waterproof Roofing system has delivered more than six decades of commercial roofing success by building upon a heritage of innovation in rubber polymer technology.

Dr Samir Majumdar, Rubber Consultant (India & Asia pacific), has served in leading tyre companies like JK Tyre, Kyoto Japan Tire, among others. He was technical and R&D head (Asia Pacific) in ExxonMobil. He has authored several research papers and technical books. smajumdar501234@yahoo.co.in

Orion Engineered Carbons, a specialty chemical company, started commercial sales in Italy from the first new reactor for carbon black production to be commissioned in the European Union in over 40 years. 

The new 25-kiloton line at the facility in Ravenna, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, produces both specialty and technical rubber carbon blacks, primarily for the European market, the company said in a release. 

Corning Painter, CEO, Orion, said, “The new line offers customers seeking long-term solutions a unique strategic opportunity to align with a dependable plant that has been operating for more than 60 years in Europe.” 

Additional investments at the plant include a new co-generation facility to convert waste heat into electricity, generating up to 120 MWh of electricity per year. Seventy percent of the electricity is supplied to the national grid, serving about 30,000 households. Orion is a net exporter of electricity in Europe and worldwide. (TT)  

Shin-Etsu Chemical, a leading chemical company, plans to invest $702 million in its silicone portfolio, a key component of its functional materials business segment.

This latest investment follows a plan announced in February 2022, worth $562 million, to meet the surging demand for advanced functional silicone products. However, due to the continuous growth in need, especially for eco-friendly options that align with the global goal of carbon neutrality, the company has decided to expand the applications of its silicone products. The company will also focus on enhancing the advanced functionality of its product lineup and further developing environmentally friendly silicones.

In alignment with its newly announced silicones investment plan, Shin-Etsu Chemical will make investments not only in its central production hub in Japan, the Gunma Complex in Gunma Prefecture, but also in its Naoetsu Plant in Niigata Prefecture, Takefu Plant in Fukui Prefecture, and the Group company plant in Thailand, where silicone monomer and polymer production is conducted. The company will also invest further in existing silicone plants across other Asian countries, the United States, and Hungary. Simultaneously, Shin-Etsu Chemical will accelerate efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by embracing greener manufacturing processes.

Klean Industries Inc has announced that its partner Pyrolysis Hellas SA has completed Phase II of the Detailed Feasibility Study to design and build a tyre pyrolysis plant in Greece. Greek Authorities gave permits to its final Phase, the company said in a release. The company, while terming it as a significant milestone for the PHS project, claimed that it was the first tyre pyrolysis and carbon upgrading project in Greece to receive full authorizations.

Klean Industries Inc has announced that its partner Pyrolysis Hellas SA has completed Phase II of the Detailed Feasibility Study to design and build a tyre pyrolysis plant in Greece. Greek Authorities gave permits to its final Phase, the company said in a release. The company, while terming it as a significant milestone for the PHS project, claimed that it was the first tyre pyrolysis and carbon upgrading project in Greece to receive full authorizations.

Klean Industries Inc has announced that its partner Pyrolysis Hellas SA has completed Phase II of the Detailed Feasibility Study to design and build a tyre pyrolysis plant in Greece. Greek Authorities gave permits to its final Phase, the company said in a release. The company, while terming it as a significant milestone for the PHS project, claimed that it was the first tyre pyrolysis and carbon upgrading project in Greece to receive full authorizations.Klean Industries Inc has announced that its partner Pyrolysis Hellas SA has completed Phase II of the Detailed Feasibility Study to design and build a tyre pyrolysis plant in Greece. Greek Authorities gave permits to its final Phase, the company said in a release. The company, while terming it as a significant milestone for the PHS project, claimed that it was the first tyre pyrolysis and carbon upgrading project in Greece to receive full authorizations.

Each year, over 1.5 billion tyres are sold worldwide, representing more than 26 million metric tonnes, and just as many tyres each year also fall into the category of end-of-life tyres providing a large and partially untapped potential for resource and material recovery. Today, most traditional ELT treatment processes are not circular and do not result in any production of raw materials that are suitable to be reused in the tyre manufacturing industry. Without such ELT solutions in the EU, more than half of the EU end-of-life tyres and secondhand tyres are landfilled or are exported as tyre derived fuels for use into furnaces as an industrial fuel. The PHS project intends to reverse these trends and create a vibrant addition to advancements being made in the tyre recycling sector, the release said.

The PHS project is co-owned by Karabas European Hellenic Recycling. Currently, KEHR collects and recycles all types of scrap vehicle tyres and recycles them through traditional methods by shredding tyres into rubber granules, rubber powder & shock-absorbent surfacing slabs.

PHS has partnered with Klean Industries to build a modern tyre recycling facility that encompasses a state-of-the-art scrap tyre pyrolysis plant to recycle 20,000 TPA of waste tyres into valuable chemical products.

PHS proposes to construct and operate the Waste Tyre Pyrolysis Plant in Moulkia, a seaside town near Skala, Greece. It is located at an existing industrial site that is owned by KEHR, the release added. (TT)

ResiCare, an adhesive manufacturing subsidiary of Michelin, has found commercial use in Allin's plywood manufacturing unit, R'PLY. Allin and Michelin have been in collaboration since 2018.

The company claims that R'Ply is the first responsible plywood made using certified Poplar wood and integrating a ResiCare resin that is kinder to human health as well as the environment. The R’Ply is a high-performance plywood which can be used for multiple applications, according to the company. The plywood can be used for boat-building or in the building trade and will be available at certain DIY stores soon.

Michelin had set up a mobile ResiCare production unit at its Olsztyn site in May 2021. The company hopes to replace more than 80 percent of the usual adhesive used in its tyre textile reinforcement with the new ResiCare adhesive, which is free from any substances of very high concern for health (SVHC), by 2025. The company further plans to set up mobile production units similar to the one in Europe and Asia in the coming months. (TT)