Polypropylene/elastomers/organophilic bentonite nanocomposites. Influence of elastomer content on morphology and mechanical properties

In this study, the effect of the elastomer terpolymer ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) content on the morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene PP/EPDM/organophilic bentonite nanocomposite was evaluated. The bentonite, supplied by Bentonit Uniao Nordeste, was purified and organically modified with cetyl trimethyl quaternary ammonium (cetremide) before the incorporation in PP/EPDM blend. The blends with various amounts of EPDM (10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) and 1 phr of organoclay were prepared by melt-blending at 180 deg C and 50 rpm for 15 min with an internal mixer (Haake). The blends were characterized by X-ray diffraction and mechanical properties (tensile strength). According to the results, we concluded that the content of EPDM affected the morphology and mechanical properties of nanocomposites resulting in improvement in mechanical and morphological properties when a content of 30 wt% of EPDM was used. (author)