Rheological, thermal, and morphological properties of blends based on poly(propylene), ethylene propylene rubber, and ethylene‐1‐octene copolymer that could result from end of life vehicles: Effect of maleic anhydride grafted poly(propylene)

Abstract

AbstractThe objective of this work is to study the properties of blends that could result from the recycling of end‐of‐life vehicles (ELV). While ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) have been used extensively as elastomeric additives in poly(propylene) (PP), they can be substituted by ethylene‐1‐octene copolymer (EOC). As a consequence, the matter resulting from the sorting of ELV might be more complex and made of PP, EPR, and EOC. The effect of incorporating EOC [that is a polyethylene elastomer (PEE)] and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MAH) on the rheological, thermal, and morphological properties of PP/EPR blends has been investigated. Blends of various compositions (with and without compatibilizer) were prepared using a corotating twin‐screw extruder. The results were compared to the ones presented by a commercial (PP/EPR) blend. The EPR phase is dispersed in the form of spherical particles in (PP/EPR). The EOC phase is dispersed in the form of aggregated particles. Dynamic viscoelastic and differential scanning calorimetry properties of (PP/EPR)/EOC blends shows the incompatibility of the components even in presence of PP‐g‐MAH copolymer. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1009–1015, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers