Eco-friendly elastomeric composites containing Sencha and Gun Powder green tea extracts

A permanent increase in the demand for polymers is closely related to the issue of their degradation. Typically, aromatic amines or phenol derivatives are used to protect materials against ageing. In our studies, we propose to use natural pro-ecological substances, such as polyphenols extracted from green tea leaves, to protect elastomers against ageing. Several extracts from Sencha and Gun Powder green tea leaves were incorporated into ethylene-propylene rubbers (EPM, Dutral CO-054). The vulcanizates of EPM samples containing the anti-oxidants under investigation were then subjected to UV radiations and climatic and thermal ageing processes. The changes in deformation energy, colour, and crosslinking density of the EPM vulcanizates were then measured before and after each ageing process. Based on the investigations performed, it is has been found that both the Sencha and Gun Powder green tea extracts display anti-oxidative properties that can protect EPM rubbers against the action of climatic factors.