The use of Designed Experiment to optimize the filler loading in an EPDM compound

This paper will show that Designed Experiments can be an economical way to explore optimization of any part of a rubber compound.  In this experiment, a standard EPDM compound was used to identify interactions between clay, talc, and carbon black loadings and to predict an optimal loading scheme.  Interactions were found and an ideal model compound was identified for further investigation.