Improving the Sustainable Content in Thermoplastic Elastomers - Use of Natural Rubber and Alternative Fillers

摘要

Thermoplastic olefin (TPO) materials are widely used in the automotive industry in both interior and exterior applications. TPO is made of a rigid and stiff thermoplastic, usually polypropylene (PP), and an impact-modifying elastomer like ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM). TPOs exhibit a good balance in properties such as toughness and ease of processing compared to the properties of the individual constituents. The chemical attributes of the elastomer constituent affect the properties of TPO. As the demand for sustainable and renewable materials grows, there is an opportunity to identify alternatives to replace the synthetic rubber and fillers used in the formulations with more environmentally friendly materials. In this study, we evaluated the effect of replacing EPDM with natural rubber in TPO. A particular attribute of interest is the effect of this replacement on the low temperature performance of TPO. Additionally, the study included the effect of alternative renewable fillers on the physical properties of TPO.