Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Polymer Engineering and Science, cilt.66, sa.3, ss.2081-2091, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) offer a sustainable alternative to conventional rubber in material design as they can be reprocessed similarly to thermoplastics. However, it is crucial to investigate the effects of reprocessing to evaluate the differences between virgin and recycled forms. In this study, EPDM/PP-based TPV was exposed to multiple extrusion cycles, during which the material was exposed to high mechanical and thermal stresses. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis was carried out by examining the material's mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties. Chemical degradation after each processing stage was evaluated via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and the results showed no noticeable change in chemical composition. Similarly, mechanical and elastic properties were extensively tested via compression set, tensile, tear, and hardness tests, and no negative effect on mechanical performance was observed. The rheological properties of the reused materials did not adversely affect their processability. Overall, results indicated that the main characteristics remained stable even after multiple extrusion cycles. Consequently, these findings show that EPDM/PP-based TPVs can be reused multiple times without any negative impact on material properties.