Effect of Complex Curatives on the Properties for Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber/Polypropylene Blends

This study investigates the effects of different types of curatives at polypropylene (PP) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) blend ratios (100 : 40 phr) in dynamically vulcanized products. The thermoplastic vulcanizates are prepared by batch melt mixing of PP with EPDM, using pheolic resin, dicumyl peroxide, hydrosilyation, and complex systems as curatives. Observed changes in curing characteristics and mechanical properties of blends have been correlated with phase morphology, as attested by scanning electron micrographs. On the basis of the obtained results, different curative systems control final vulcanizing characteristics, mechanical properties, morphology, intermolecular interaction, and thermal properties of EPDM/PP blends.