GLASS-FIBER REINFORCED POLYPROPYLENE EPDM BLENDS .2. MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES AND MORPHOLOGY

Tensile and impact properties of the ternary system polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene diene elastomer (EPDM)/glass fiber (GF) and the corresponding binary systems PP/EPDM blend and PP/GF composite are studied. Results are presented and analyzed as functions of compositional variables, viz., (i) matrix PP/EPDM blending ratio at constant GF loadings and (ii) GF loading at constant matrix blending ratios for the ternary system and (iii) EPDM content for PP/EPDM binary system and (iv) GF content for the binary system PP/GF, respectively. The role of individual components EPDM and GF in these mechanical properties is discussed and their combined effects are inspected at certain composition ranges. Theoretical analysis of tensile data is presented which reveals the effect of EPDM on the reinforcing effect of GF. Unlike the conventional role of an elastomer, increase of EPDM content in the presence of GF increases the modulus of the ternary system. Impact strength of the ternary system increases with increasing GF content both in the presence and absence of EPDM, showing a distinct minimum at matrix blending ratio PP/EPDM 90/10. Scanning electron micrographs of impact-fractured surfaces are presented to illustrate the dispersion of the two phases of the polyblend matrix, fiber alignment, and the fiber interface.