{
  "abstract": "Ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) compounds used in automotive sealing systems contain permanent cross-links and high amounts of fillers and process oils, which complicate their recycling. This study examined the effects of particle-size fraction (≤125 and ≥125 μm) and microwave exposure time (60–180 s at 600 W) on the structural response of a highly filled industrial EPDM waste. Apparent sol fraction and apparent cross-link density were used as comparative indicators, supported by ATR-FTIR, XPS, TGA, and SEM analyses. The fine fraction treated for 60 s showed the lowest apparent cross-link density (0.72 × 10–4 mol/cm3), corresponding to an apparent reduction of 17.11% relative to untreated ground EPDM. Longer exposure is increasingly favored by network-forming responses, particularly in the coarse fraction, demonstrating competition between network loosening and secondary cross-linking. XPS showed changes in sulfur-containing surface environments, while ATR-FTIR revealed no appreciable shifts in the principal EPDM bands. TGA and SEM showed clear differences between the particle-size fractions. In revulcanized compounds containing 10 phr recycled EPDM, tensile strength remained within 7.71–8.32 MPa, and none of the recycled formulations differed significantly from the reference C-EPDM. Microwave treatment had a significant overall effect on tensile strength (p = 0.014), but only the treated fine fraction differed from its untreated counterpart (p = 0.046); elongation at break did not differ significantly. Surface roughness and Shore A hardness remained broadly comparable. Overall, microwave exposure produced competing particle-size- and time-dependent network responses, indicating a narrow processing window for the controlled modification of highly filled industrial EPDM waste.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Dokuz Eylul University , , Buca , ,",
    "Standard Profil Ege , , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Begüm Uzunbayir"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Bahadir Uyulgan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Orçun Saf"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f5r8j5qh7sjza.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1021/acsomega.6c04739",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13688528",
  "id": "f5r8j5qh7sjza",
  "issns": [
    "2470-1343"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/11/41/62838/5445910/Microwave-Treated-Structural-and-Network-Changes",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2507|Polymer crystallization and properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220855821",
  "pdf_url": "https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acsomega.6c04739",
  "pmcid": "PMC13688528",
  "pmid": "42923967",
  "published": "2026-10-07",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f5r8j5qh7sjza.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:39Z",
      "native_id": "10.1021/acsomega.6c04739",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/11/41/62838/5445910/Microwave-Treated-Structural-and-Network-Changes"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:36Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42923967",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923967"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2507|Polymer crystallization and properties",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Microwave-Treated Structural and Network Changes in Filled Industrial EPDM Waste: Effects of Particle Size and Exposure Time",
  "title_text": "Microwave-Treated Structural and Network Changes in Filled Industrial EPDM Waste: Effects of Particle Size and Exposure Time",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:36Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/f5r8j5qh7sjza",
  "venue": "ACS Omega",
  "versions": []
}