Dynamically Vulcanized PP/EPDM Blends: Effect of Composition and Curing Agents

The comparative study between two curing agents, conventional peroxide (Peroximon) and bismaleimide/dicumyl peroxide combination (BMI/DCP), and the influence of composition in TPE-Vs based on polypropylene (PP) and ethylene—propylene—diene terpolymer (EPDM) were investigated. The materials were characterized by mechanical, hardness, swelling and morphological properties. The TPE-Vs obtained using Peroximon presented lower tensile strength, remarkable lower deformation and swelling degrees than those cured with BMI/DCP. Among all the investigated PP/EPDM compositions, the content of thermoplastic increases the tensile at break. The experimental swelling values are in agreement with the theoretical for the TPE-Vs obtained using BMI/DCP and for the obtained using Peroximon all compositions showed experimental swelling degree higher than the theoretical ones. The hardness is determined by the amount of PP. We also observed in the morphology studies that the rubber domains are smaller and better defined when the BMI/DCP is used.