ELASTOMERS AND PLASTICS Investigation of the Foam Density Development of EPDM Rubber Foam using Thermoplastic Expandable Microspheres

The aim of these experimental investigations is to understand the potential for reducing foam density by the amount of Thermoplastic Expandable Microspheres (TEM) used as foaming agent, the processing temperature and the viscosity of the rubber.

With the focus on the climate targets to be achieved in 2045, there are increased requirements for technical products. These requirements include conserving resources, for example, by reducing the amount of materials used. In addition, the weight of technical components must be reduced in order to reduce energy consumption in the production and the use phase of the application. In order to meet the requirements mentioned above, various lightweight design approaches have been established in the field of thermoplastics and thermosets.