2.3.6. Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer Rubber

Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber is a type of synthetic rubber used in many applications, being widely adopted in the manufacture of cables, hoses, car tire sidewalls, cover strips, wires, belts, shoes and sporting goods, because it possesses good resistance to oxidation, aging and temperature. Additionally, EPDM rubber is easier to handle and cheaper compared to NR. Conversely, EPDM rubber has several disadvantages compared to NR, such as lower tensile strength and fatigue strength. Therefore, carbon black is used a lot as reinforcement for EPDM rubber [85].

Burgaz et al. [86] researched the e ffects of magnetic particles and carbon black on EPDM rubber based MRE, also focusing on their di fference by making MREs with two di fferent micron-sized iron particles of CI powder and bare iron (BI) powder. Through the analysis of Payne e ffect, they compared the results that CI particles are found to be more compatible with EPDM rubber matrix than BI particles, based on mechanical properties and MR properties according to the contents of CI particles in EPDM rubber based MRE.

Additionally, Plachy et al. [87] fabricated MRE by dispersing CI in EPDM rubber matrix. The degree of porous MRE was controlled through the foaming agen<sup>t</sup> based on azodicarbonamide. Through this, the e ffect of the porous matrix on the EPDM rubber based MRE was studied. As a result, the porous system complements the high toughness of conventional MREs, which can potentially be utilized in other applications with properties between MR fluids and solid elastomers.
