Compatibilization Efficiency of Polybutadiene-Grafted Maleic Anhydride in Ethylene-Propylene Diene Rubber/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Blends
This research aims to investigate the efficiency of polybutadiene-grafted maleic anhydride (PB-g-MAH) as the compatibilizer for ethylene-propylene diene rubber and epoxidized natural rubber (EPDM/ENR) blends. PB-g-MAH was varied from 0-10 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr), and the cure characteristics, mechanical and dynamic properties of 70/30 EPDM/ENR blends with and without compatibilizer were evaluated. It was found that the minimum torque, maximum torque, scorch and cure times of the blends increased after adding PB-g-MAH, whereas cure rate decreased. The morphology of the blend is improved by the addition of PB-g-MAH in small amounts, owing to an improved compatibility of these rubbers confirmed by dynamic mechanical property. The hardness and oil resistance increased with increasing PB-g-MAH content. Of all blends investigated, the blend compatibilized with 2-4 phr of PB-g-MAH shows the optimum mechanical properties and thermal resistance.