Effect of high density polyethylene addition and testing temperature on the mechanical and morphological properties of polypropylene/ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer binary blends

High density polyethylene (HDPE) was added to the polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) binary blend, and the effect of testing temperatures on the modulus of elasticity, impact behavior and corresponding fracture morphology was analyzed. Modulus of elasticity generally decreased as the EPDM content increased regardless of the testing temperatures. However, it was found that the modulus of elasticity of PP/EPDM/HDPE ternary blend increased compared to PP/EPDM binary blend when tested at -30 and -60 degrees C. Notched Izod impact strength changed depending on the testing temperatures, however, there was not much difference between binary and ternary blends up to 20 wt% EPDM. However, at more than 30 wt% EPDM content, ternary blends showed higher impact strength compared to binary blends. Especially, at -30 degrees C, brittle-ductile transition was observed between 20 and 30 wt% EPDM. Subsurface morphology was also analyzed, and the relationship between the impact strength and the stress whitening zone was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy observation of impact fractured surfaces was conducted, and overall morphology was analyzed with respect to HDPE addition and testing temperature change. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.