Surface degradation of poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-5-ethylidene-2-norbornene) terpolymer by ozone in water

Saturated olefinic rubbers have been widely used as materials for not only municipal waterworks, but also for household uses. As a sanitizing agent for water, chlorine will be replaced by ozone in the near future from an environmental point of view. However, the ozone treatment in water seriously damages saturated olefinic rubbers, which are necessary for the infrastructure of daily life. Here, we report the surface degradation of cross-linked poly(ethylene-co-propylene-co-5-ethylidene-2-norbornene) terpolymer (EPDM) by ozone treatment, both in water and air. We also discuss how the presence of water impacts the ozone oxidation of EPDM, resulting in macroscopic damage to EPDM.