Thermoplastic elastomers based on ionomeric polyblends of zinc salts of maleated polypropylene and maleated EPDM rubber

• Published in: Polymer engineering and science Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 963 - 974
• Main Authors: Antony, Prince, Bandyopadhyay, S., De, S. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.1999; Wiley Subscription Services; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Analysis; Applied sciences; Blends; Elastomers; Exact sciences and technology; Extrusion process; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Infrared spectroscopy; Ionomers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polypropylene; Rubber; Technology of polymers; Thermoplastics; Ionomer; Strengthening; Propylene copolymer; Polymer blends; Zinc Compounds; Maleate copolymer; Stress strain relation; Mechanical properties; Thermoplastic rubber; Experimental study; Ionic interaction; Mechanism; Property formulation relationship; Shear viscosity; EPDM rubber; Dynamic mechanical properties; Mechanical loss; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0032-3888; 1548-2634
• DOI: 10.1002/pen.11485

Ionomeric polyblends of the zinc salt of maleated EPDM rubber (Zn‐mEPDM) and the zinc salt of maleated polypropylene (Zn‐mPP) in the composition range from 90/10 to 60/40 wt% behave as ionic thermoplastic elastomers (ITPE), which show synergism in physical properties. The ionomeric polyblend shows higher physical properties than the corresponding non‐ionomeric polyblend. Infrared spectroscopy reveals the occurrence of intermolecular ionic interactions between the component ionomers in the blend. Zinc stearate acts as a platicizer in the melt of the ionomeric polyblend, which exhibits a higher melt viscosity than the corresponding non‐ionomeric polyblend. The blend can be reprocessed like a thermoplastic, with no drop in strength even after three extrusion cycles.