Cellulose and lignin in place of EPDM and carbon black for automotive sealing profiles

This study aims at using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and lignin in place of EPDM and carbon black with specified amounts to investigate the chemical, thermal, rheometric, mechanical, thermo-aging and morphological properties of EPDM elastomers. At the end of the study, the introduction of the MCC and lignin enabled higher elastic modulus and tear strength unlike tensile strength by revealing minor chemical shifts and lower thermal stability. In addition, the MCC and lignin facilitated the vulcanization process with fewer torque values by dispersing mostly homogeneously in the matrix. It was shown that all of the mechanical values were found to be in the range of the specified standard after the replacement of the MCC and lignin.