The effect of compatibilizer on tensile properties, swelling behaviour and morphology of Calcium Carbonate filled Polypropylene/Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer composites

Abstract

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was used as filler in the polypropylene (PP)/ ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) composites in order to decrease cost and change the properties. The composites were prepared by using a Z-blade mixing machine at 50 rpm and 180 oC. The ratio used for PP/EPDM was 70/30 wt%. The compatibilized and uncompatibilized PP/EPDM composites were filled by CaCO3 at various 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 %wt. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was used as compatibilizer to improve the properties of PP/EPDM/CaCO3 composites. The result show that the compatibilized composites higher tensile strength and Modulus of elasticity but lower elongation at break than uncompatibilized composites. Swelling behavior shows that compatibilized composites have better water absorption resistance than uncompatibilized. The morphology study from SEM analysis reveals that compatibilized composites show better interfacial adhesion between the filler and the matrix compared to uncompatibilized composites. It is believed that the improvement of properties such as tensile strength and Modulus of elasticity were achieved with the presence of compatibilizers (MAPP).