Colin Li Pi Shan

Sponge EPDM by design

ABSTRACT The majority of EPDM materials are produced by traditional Ziegler–Natta/Vanadium catalyst and process technology. In recent decades, EPDM metallocene catalyst technologies have increased the efficiency of production and quality of materials. For the next generation, Dow introduces its Advanced Molecular Catalyst technology that further expands the molecular capability to produce new EPDMs for production of automotive sponge weather-strip (WS). These new EPDMs provide homogeneous mixing during production, faster curing and foaming during processing, and finally, an excellent surface to the EPDM automotive WS. The design and microstructure of these EPDMs are tailored to impart superior collapse resistance to the extruded profile that results in the successful production of complex WS. Case studies are also shown that demonstrates the advantages that the new EPDM brings to the automotive profile producers.

Ethylene alkene elastomers for cable insulation applications

Filled insulation compounds have predominantly been based on ethylene propylene rubber. Ethylene propylene rubber is commonly accepted to encompass ethylene propylene copolymers and ethylene propylene diene terpolymers. Advances in polymer catalyst technology have enabled a broader diversity of ethylene based polymers suitable for cable applications. The ICEA specification for medium voltage cables also allows for filled insulation compounds based on ethylene alkene copolymers. Ethylene alkene copolymers contain the traditional ethylene backbone though they can have a longer alkyl side chain or branch. This class of ethylene alkene elastomers can have the same physical properties, flexibility and electrical performance as ethylene propylene rubber based insulations.