Vinyltrimethoxysilane-grafted ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA-g-VTMS) was synthesized and applied to compatibilize ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM)/methyl vinyl silicone rubber (MVQ) blends. The silane-grafting was successfully proved by differential scanning calorimetry, FTIR spectroscopy and XPS spectroscopy. The additive amount of the compatibilizer (EVAg-VTMS) was optimized to be 10 phr (parts per hundred of rubber in weight) based on analysis of scanning electron microscopy, mechanical properties, aging properties, dynamic mechanical properties, rheological properties and thermal properties. Compared with the blend without EVA-g-VTMS, results show that the blend with 10 phr of EVA-g-VTMS exhibits the finest morphology. Tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus at 100% elongation, tear strength and TE index increase by 82.5%, 16.9%, 60.0%, 40.9%, and 41.9%, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis reveals storage modulus increase and glass transition temperatures of EPDM and MVQ move closer to each other. Rheological analysis shows a decrease in complex modulus and complex viscosity, and

This study is focused on the development of high‐performance composite materials based on nano silicon dioxide (nano‐SiO2) modified by polydopamine (PDA). A facile one‐step method was developed to synthesize core–shell structured SiO2@polydopamine (PDA) nanospheres. During the synthesis, a PDA shell was simultaneously coated on the SiO2 nanospheres to form the core–shell nanostructure which was blended with polypropylene (PP) and β nucleating agent (β‐NA) to enhance both mechanical and hydrophilic properties. Nano‐SiO2 particles modified by PDA (SiO2@polydopamine) influence the crystallization of PP seriously. The results indicated that when 1%wt SiO2@polydopamine was added, the impact strength of composite reached the maximum value 12.60k J/m2 increasing 137% compared with PP, the bending strength and bending modulus decreased slightly reaching 41.85 MPa, and 2192 MPa, respectively, the composite possessed hydrophilic performance with the water contact angle of 88.32°. β nucleating agent was used in all formulations, the synergistic effect toward mechanical properties with SiO2@polydopamine was studied. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45004.