Hi all, I observed a melting peak (at Room temperature) at both 1st heating & 2nd heating and also a crystallization kind of peak during DSC analysis of EPDM Rubber.
Can anyone suggest what would be the peak? Melting or something else
Hello, the endothermic peak at room temeprature is probably due to melting of the crystalline regions. EPDM is a copolymer containing ethylene sections that can crystallize: depending on the lenght of the ethylene sections, large or small crystallites can form. The size of crystallites affects the melting temperature, which can fall in the room temperature region. Concerning the exothermic peak, it is likely due to cold crystallization of the amourphous polyethylene regions. Upon heating, amorphous sections can gain enough thermal energy to rearrange in a crystalline form, and the relevant energy exchange is the reason for your peak.