We developed a methodology for determining the concentration of ethylene and propylene in rubber samples (raw, unvulcanized or vulcanized) based on the copolymer of ethylene, propylene and diene monomer (EPDM) by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), using universal attenuated total reflection (UATR) and transmission techniques. Pristine and pyrolized samples were analyzed. Although both techniques have shown good accuracy, UATR is the most suitable for the pure elastomer and the transmission/pyrolysis technique is more suitable for the analysis of all types of EPDM (raw, unvulcanized or vulcanized) and can be used for similar formulations.
EPDM; ethylene; propylene; FT-IR; UATR; transmission; pyrolysis; determination
