Effects of High Energy Radiation on Mechanical Properties of PP/EPDM Nanocomposite

Abstract

Nanocomposites are the materials that are created by introducing nanoparticulates that always referred to as filler into the matrix. Blends of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/Montmorillonite (MMT) were treated by compatibilizer MAPP and irradiation of electron beam. The effects on mechanical properties for both samples were compared with the untreated nanocomposites. Because each samples used different portion of clay loading, the effects of clay loading on mechanical properties is also observed. The sample is characterized by using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), tensile test and impact test.

Mechanical Behavior and Fracture Toughness Evaluation of Multiphase Polymer Nanocomposites Using Impact and J-Integral via Locus Method

“…MAPP not only improves the miscibility between organically modified clay and PP but also aids in expanding the clay galleries and enabling insertion of polymer chains leading to formation of intercalated nanocomposites structure. The optimum impact property with addition of MAPP is probably due to the fact that modified clay is polar in nature with two hydroxyl groups in its structure which interacts more easily with carboxyl group of MAPP while the PP part of the compatibilizer becomes compatible with the PP macromolecular chains [15]. Impact strength of blend matrix increased up to 660 J/m which indicates toughening effect of nanoclay layers within the blend matrix.…”