Influence of compatibilizers on the rheological, mechanical and morphological properties of epoxidized natural rubber/polypropylene thermoplastic vulcanizates

In polymeric materials combining desirable properties, compatibility between constituent components of incompatible blends is necessary. The influence of two types of blend compatibitizers, a graft copolymer of maleic anhydride and polypropylene (PP) and phenolic-modified PP, on the rheological, mechanical, and morphological properties of epoxidized natural rubber/PP thermoplastic vulcanizates was investigated at varied concentrations. All properties improved in a range of loading levels of compatibilizers at 0-7.5 wt % of PP. This was attributed to a chemical interaction between the different phases caused by the functionalized compatibilizers. increasing chemical interaction between interfaces improved the interfacial tension and led to a microscale size of the dispersion. A decreasing trend in the properties was observed at compatibilizer levels higher than 7.5 wt % of PP because of segregation, which led to a third blend component dispersed in the PP matrix. The compatibilizers behaved as lubricants in the polymer melt flow. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.