Stabilization Activity of Kelp Extract in Ethylene–Propylene Rubber as Safe Packaging Material

This paper presents the stabilization effects of the solid extract of kelp (Ascophyllum nodosum) on an engineering elastomer, ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPR), which may be used as packaging material. Progressive increase in additive loadings (0.5, 1, and 2 phr) increases the oxidation induction time for thermally aged rubber at 190 °C from 10 min to 30 min for pristine material and modified polymer by adding 2 phr protection powder. When the studied polymer is γ-irradiated at 50 and 100 kGy, the onset oxidation temperatures increase as a result of blocking the oxidation reactivity of free radicals. The stabilization effect occurs through the activity of alginic acid, which is one of the main active components associated with alginates. The accelerated degradation caused by γ-exposure advances more slowly when the kelp extract is present. The OOT value for the oxidation of EPR samples increases from 130 °C to 165 °C after the γ-irradiation of pristine and modified (2 phr of kelp powder) EPR, respectively. The altered oxidation state of EPR samples by the action of γ-rays in saline serum is faster in neat polymer than in stabilized material. When the probes are placed in physiological serum and irradiated at 25 kGy, the OOT value for neat EPR (145 °C) is much lower than the homologous value for the polymer samples protected by kelp extract (153 °C for the concentration of 0.5 phr, 166 °C for the concentration of 1 phr, and 185 °C for the concentration of 2 phr).