Development and characterisation of HDPE/EPDM-g-TMEVS blends for mechanical and morphological properties for engineering applications

A novel graft copolymer of tris (2-methoxy ethoxy) vinylsilane (TMEVS) onto ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) has been developed by grafting TMEVS using dicumyl peroxide as an initiator (EPDM-g-TMVES) in a Brabender plasticorder. Grafting of TMEVS onto EPDM has been ascertained using FTIR. Suitable interfacial compatibilizer was synthesized by grafting of HDPE with glycidyl methacrylate (HDPE-g-GMA) with benzoyl peroxide as initiator. The EPDM-grafted-TMEVS developed has been blended with different weight percentage of HDPE, EPDM-g-TMEVS and nanoclay. The nanoclay was varied from 0% to 10% and with incorporation of compatibilizer and without compatibilizer in a brabender plasticorder. Different blend systems were prepared with compatibilizer and without compatibilizer with varying nanoclay and their thermal, mechnical and morphological properties were studied.