Global EPDM Market worth $6.5 Billion by 2017

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EPDM or ethylene propylene diene monomer is a type of synthetic rubber. It is an elastomer which is characterized by a wide range of applications. EPDM is synthetic rubber and has some very useful physical as well as chemical properties. EPDM is resistance to heat, ozone, weather, polar substances, and excellent electrical insulation properties. Due to these properties, EPDM finds its applications in various fields such as automotive applications, roofing systems, etc.

Typical Properties

Ethylene-propylene rubbers are valuable for their excellent resistance to heat, oxidation, ozone and weather aging due to their stable, saturated polymer backbone structure. Properly pigmented black and non-black compounds are color stable.

As non-polar elastomers, they have good electrical resistivity, as well as resistance to polar solvents, such as water, acids, alkalies, phosphate esters and many ketones and alcohols.

Amorphous or low crystalline grades have excellent low temperature flexibility with glass transition points of about minus 60 °C.

Heat aging resistance up to 130°C can be obtained with properly selected sulfur acceleration systems and heat resistance at 160°C can be obtained with peroxide cured compounds. Compression set resistance is good, particularly at high temperatures, if sulfur donor or peroxide cure systems are used.

These polymers respond well to high filler and plasticiser loading, providing economical compounds. They can develop high tensile and tear properties, excellent abrasion resistance, as well as improved oil swell resistance and flame retardance.

Polymer Properties
Mooney Viscosity, ML 1+4 @ 125 °C	5-200+
Ethylene Content, wt. %	45 to 80 wt. %
Diene Content, wt. %	0 to 15 wt. %
Specific Gravity, gm/ml	0.855-0.88 (depending on polymer composition)
Vulcanisate Properties
Hardness, Shore A Durometer	30A to 95A
Tensile Strength, MPa	7 to 21
Elongation, %	100 to 600
Compression Set B, %	20 to 60
Useful Temperature Range, °C	-50 ° to +160 °
Tear Resistance	Fair to Good
Abrasion Resistance	Good to Excellent
Resilience	Fair to Good (stable over wide temp. ranges)
Electrical Properties	Excellent

  Table. Properties of ethylene-propylene elastomers.

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Automotive is primary application in terms of utilization of ethylene propylene diene monomer.

Apart from this, EPDM is used in the manufacturing of seals, washers, glass-run channels, radiators, tubing, pond liners, belts, electrical insulation, O-rings, solar panel heat collectors, UV protection and speaker cone surrounds, electrical wire & cable jackets, roofing membranes, etc.

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The report provides a comprehensive review of major market drivers, restraints, opportunities, winning imperatives, challenges, and key issues in the market.

The EPDM  market is segmented on the basis of major geographic regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (ROW) that include key growth regions such as China and India.

Another method for EPDM market segmentation is on the basis of applications such as automotive, building & construction, plastic modification, wire & cables, lubricant additive, etc. Market share for major market participants is also one of the key factors while discussing EPDM market.

EDPM market is facing some major threats over the period. The important threats to the market are rise in the cost of EPDM manufacturing and increasing awareness of health hazards associated with ethylene propylene diene monomer based products.

However, EPDM market has a highly competitive environment in the form of low entry market barriers, growing production capacity utilization of ethylene propylene diene monomer, and development of new capacities in Asia-Pacific region.

The demand for global market is expected to rise in Asia-Pacific due to robust growth in end-user industries such as automotive, wire & cables, and lubricant additive of China and India.

Through production capacity expansion in key consuming regions, ethylene propylene diene monomer manufacturers are improving their geographic reach and increasing price competency to sustain their market position in the global market. Another major strategies adopted by manufacturers are introduction of new products and distribution agreements to widen their existing end-user industry base.

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