Material Making and Characterization Process

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 91 views

Introduction

The vehicle door is a vital component that ensures the safety and comfort of passengers. One crucial part that plays a significant role in this case is the Weather Strip, which functions as a damper and retaining water and dust. In this study, the research team explored the use of EPDM/NR alloys with the addition of limestone powder as a basic material for making a more effective weather strip.

Material Making and Characterization Process

The study begins with the manufacture of EPDM/NR alloys using SIR 20 natural rubber. Both types of rubber are then vulcanized with the addition of stearic acid, ZnO, MBTS, and sulfur using the reflux method at 150 ° C. This process is followed by printing using a hot press at 125 ° C. The result is an EPDM/NR alloy with a ratio of 20:80 which has a tensile strength value of 3,9823 MPa, strain of 116.58%, and modulus of elasticity of 0.7493 MPa. Analysis of the functional group using FTIR is done to ensure the chemical structure of the EPDM/NR alloy.

The EPDM/NR alloy is then added with limestone powder with variations in adding 10 PHR, 20 PHR, 30 PHR, and 40 PHR. The material results of this mixture are then characterized through a test of the strength of the impact, SEM analysis, and DSC.

Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing process of the EPDM/NR alloy involves the following steps:

Vulcanization of SIR 20 natural rubber with stearic acid, ZnO, MBTS, and sulfur using the reflux method at 150 ° C.
Printing using a hot press at 125 ° C.
Analysis of the functional group using FTIR to ensure the chemical structure of the EPDM/NR alloy.

Characterization of EPDM/NR Alloy

The EPDM/NR alloy is characterized through the following tests:

Tensile strength test to determine the strength of the material.
Strain test to determine the elongation of the material.
Modulus of elasticity test to determine the stiffness of the material.
FTIR analysis to determine the chemical structure of the material.

Testing and Analysis Results

The impact strength test shows that the EPDM/NR alloy with the addition of 30 PHR limestone powder has the highest impact formation, which is 4,732 J/M2. These results indicate that the addition of limestone powder can increase the ability to absorb material impact.

SEM analysis shows that the mixture of EPDM/NR alloys with limestone powder has a homogeneous structure. This indicates that limestone powder is distributed evenly in the EPDM/NR alloy, so as to provide optimal improvement of performance.

DSC analysis shows that composite material experiences deposition at the exothermic peak which reaches a temperature of 436.44 ° C.

Impact Strength Test

The impact strength test is used to determine the ability of the material to absorb impact. The results show that the EPDM/NR alloy with the addition of 30 PHR limestone powder has the highest impact formation, which is 4,732 J/M2.

SEM Analysis

SEM analysis is used to determine the structure of the material. The results show that the mixture of EPDM/NR alloys with limestone powder has a homogeneous structure.

DSC Analysis

DSC analysis is used to determine the thermal properties of the material. The results show that the composite material experiences deposition at the exothermic peak which reaches a temperature of 436.44 ° C.

Conclusion and Benefits

This study shows that the EPDM/NR alloy with the addition of limestone powder has the potential to become an effective alternative material for making a weather strip. The test results showed an increase in the strength of the impact, homogeneous material structure, and high melting point, so as to increase endurance and performance of weather strips.

The development of this composite material has several benefits:

Improvement of Safety and Comfort

The weather strip with higher impact complications can increase the safety and comfort of passengers when the vehicle door hits.

Better Resistance

High melting points make this composite material more resistant to extreme temperatures and damage due to collisions.

Utilization of Local Resources

The use of limestone powder as a filler supports the use of local resources and reduce dependence on imported materials.

Future Research Directions

Further research needs to be done to optimize the ratio of raw materials and the production process, as well as testing the duration and resistance to environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity.

Optimization of Raw Materials Ratio

The ratio of EPDM/NR alloy to limestone powder needs to be optimized to achieve the best possible properties.

Production Process Optimization

The production process needs to be optimized to achieve the best possible properties and to reduce production costs.

Testing of Environmental Factors

The composite material needs to be tested for its resistance to environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, to ensure its durability and performance.

Q: What is EPDM/NR alloy?

A: EPDM/NR alloy is a type of rubber material that is made by combining ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber with natural rubber (NR). This combination provides a strong and durable material that is suitable for various applications, including weather strips.

Q: What is the purpose of adding limestone powder to EPDM/NR alloy?

A: Limestone powder is added to EPDM/NR alloy to improve its mechanical properties, such as impact strength and tensile strength. The addition of limestone powder also helps to reduce the cost of production and to utilize local resources.

Q: What are the benefits of using EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder as a weather strip?

A: The benefits of using EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder as a weather strip include:

Improved safety and comfort due to increased impact strength
Better resistance to extreme temperatures and damage due to collisions
Utilization of local resources and reduced dependence on imported materials

Q: How is the EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder made?

A: The EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder is made by vulcanizing SIR 20 natural rubber with stearic acid, ZnO, MBTS, and sulfur using the reflux method at 150 ° C. The resulting material is then mixed with limestone powder and processed using a hot press at 125 ° C.

Q: What are the test results of the EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder?

A: The test results of the EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder include:

Impact strength test: The EPDM/NR alloy with the addition of 30 PHR limestone powder has the highest impact formation, which is 4,732 J/M2.
SEM analysis: The mixture of EPDM/NR alloys with limestone powder has a homogeneous structure.
DSC analysis: The composite material experiences deposition at the exothermic peak which reaches a temperature of 436.44 ° C.

Q: What are the future research directions for EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder?

A: The future research directions for EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder include:

Optimization of raw materials ratio
Production process optimization
Testing of environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity

Q: Can EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder be used in other applications?

A: Yes, EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder can be used in other applications, such as:

Seals and gaskets
Belts and hoses
Tire components
Other rubber products

Q: What are the potential challenges and limitations of using EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder?

A: The potential challenges and limitations of using EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder include:

Difficulty in achieving uniform distribution of limestone powder
Potential for reduced mechanical properties due to the addition of limestone powder
Limited availability of limestone powder in certain regions

Q: How can EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder be improved?

A: EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder can be improved by:

Optimizing the ratio of raw materials
Improving the production process
Testing and optimizing the material for specific applications

Q: What are the potential applications of EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder in the automotive industry?

A: The potential applications of EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder in the automotive industry include:

Weather strips
Seals and gaskets
Belts and hoses
Tire components
Other rubber products

Q: Can EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder be used in other industries?

A: Yes, EPDM/NR alloy with limestone powder can be used in other industries, such as:

Aerospace
Construction
Medical devices
Other industries that require durable and resistant materials.