Advances in Polymer Technology, Vol.21, No.3, 201-213, 2002
Studies on morphology and mechanical properties of EPDM-g-VOS/LLDPE blends for engineering applications
A new type of vinyloxyaminosilane (VOS) grafted ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM-g-VOS) has been synthesized in a Haake Rheocord-90, torque rheometer. Using EPDM-g-VOS the blends of linear low density polyethylene (EPDM-g-VOS/LLDPE) with varying percentage compositions were prepared in a two-roll mixing mill. The morphology of the EPDM-g-VOS/LLDPE blends was studied using a scanning electron microscope. The morphology of the blends indicated a two-phase structure in which the minor phase is dispersed as domains in the major continuous phase. However, at 50 wt% both EPDM-g-VOS and LLDPE exist as continuous phases and generate co-continuous morphology. The effect of blend ratio and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) concentration on the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus, and hardness have been investigated. It was ascertained that the mechanical properties of blends increase with increase of LLDPE content and DCP concentration. An attempt has been made in this investigation to correlate the variation of mechanical properties with morphology of the blend. Data from reprocessability studies of the blends indicate that these blends can be recycled and reprocessed several times without appreciable loss of their mechanical characteristics. Data on mechanical characteristics indicate that these blends can be used for engineering applications with better performance than ungrafted EPDM. The EPDM-g-VOS/LLDPE blends developed in the present work may find applications in the field of automobiles and medium high voltage cable insulation.