Properties and dispersion of EPDM/modified-organoclay nanocomposites

Elastomers show improved properties when reinforced with nanoclay at low filler loadings, but dispersion of the clay is difficult in non-polar polymers, such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). In this work several compatibilization approaches were studied, including the addition of EPDM modified with maleic anhydride (EPDM-g-MA) and the use of organoclay modified with maleic anhydride-grafted liquid vinyl polybutadiene (LVPB-g-MA). The use of LVPB-g-MA-modified organoclay increased the degree of dispersion as measured by X-ray diffraction, giving increased thermal stability and modulus, and decreased swelling. Flame resistance was poorer for the EPDM/LVPB-g-MA-modified organoclay system compared to the unmodified EPDM/organoclay compound.The resistivity of the nanoclay-filled composites was lower than the reference EPDM compound, but dielectric properties for the LVPB-g-MA modified organoclay were similar to the reference