Dynamic vulcanization of polyethylene-based thermoplastic elastomer blends (original) (raw)

In this investigation, the effects of blending with ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer and subsequent dynamic curing with sulfur on the macromolecular structure and properties of pure low-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene were studied. The crosslinking efficiency of polyethylene-based ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer blends upon dynamic curing was assessed with torque and gel content measurements. The curing of dispersed ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer in a polyethylene matrix improved both the mechanical and thermomechanical properties as a result of the formation of a crosslink structure in the rubber phase. In view of the electrical applications of this cured blend material, the volume resistivity was measured. The thermal stability of vulcanized polyethylene/ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer blends was found to be superior to that of unvulcanized blends. In scanning electron microscopy analysis, good interface bonding between the polyethylene matrix and dispersed ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer was observed for the cured blends. V