ESTUDO COMPARATIVO DA UTILIZAÇÃO DE ELASTÔMERO TERMOPLÁSTICO TPO OU BORRACHA EPDM EM VEDAÇÕES DE VIDROS AUTOMOTIVOS

EPDM has always been used as the raw material for all vehicle seals. Due to these materials, not being recyclable and require a complex process opened the utilization of a new class, very similar, called TPO, or Thermoplastic Polyolefin, a polymer constituted basically of PP (Polypropylene) and EPDM rubber, bringing both materials characteristics to it. OBJECTIVE: To compare, in 3 main categories, Product Performance, process and material, which one is the best to be applied in automotive door Glass Run Channels. RESULTS: A decision matrix was done considering all aspects above, where scores have been applied to bring the overall choice. The result expressed that TPO’s are better for Glass Seals, specially because they are recyclable, which opens the opportunity to the use regrind materials, in a low percentage of composition, which preserves the characteristics of the final product, without loss of performance, more easily than in EPDM, where special processes are necessary to devulcanize the rubber, and also due to the fact that the addition of this compound reduces performance, compromising the performance of EPDM in automotive glass run channels.