Morphology Development in Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (TPV)

Abstract:

The mechanisms of fragmentation and dispersion in molten polypropylene (PP) of several pre-crosslinked and plasticized ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) networks were studied. The results highlight the importance of the gel fraction of the pre-crosslinked EPDMs on the quality of the dispersion of such networks. As a result, pre-crosslinked EPDM having a gel fraction below g_EPDM=0.7 can be finely and homogeneously fragmented and dispersed in presence of PP. Nevertheless, contrarily to some theoretical model expectations, a partial fragmentation of the chemical networks was always observed even at very high crosslink density (g_EPDM>0.7). It can be then admitted a collisioncoalescenceseparation type erosion mechanism of the EPDM domains. Finally, these results brought significant information on TPV morphology stabilization and their related mechanical properties.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 844)
• Pages: 178-181
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.844.178
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Philippe Cassagnau, C. Barres, G. Martin, N. Garois, Ph. Sonntag
• Keywords: Crosslinking, EPDM, Thermoplastic Vulcanizates

References

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