Effect of cross-linking on the crystallization and fusion behaviour of polyethylene-ethylene propylene diene terpolymer blends

Abstract

The effect of blend ratio and cross-linking in ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) and polyethylene (PE) blends on the crystallization and fusion processes of PE were studied. The cross-linking was varied by varying the level of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) from 0.5 to 5 parts. The melting point, percentage crystallinity, heat of fusion and entropy of fusion all decrease with increasing EPDM content in the blend composition. All these properties are further reduced on cross-linking and the extent of reduction depends on the amount of DCP used and the blend composition. A relation between the melting point reduction and the high-temperature modulus was developed in order to predict the properties and the effect of cross-linking on the crystallization behaviour of the blend systems.