pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S07 - Polymer blends and alloys
Poster Presentation
 
 

Study of morphology and melt rheological behaviour of EPDM rubber/EVA blend system

Masoudi Parvane (1), Katbab Ali Asghar (1)*, Nazockdast Hossein (1)

(1) Amirkabir University of Technology - Tehran - Iran

In the present work, attempts have been made to prepare blends of EPDM rubber as an elastic and flexible matrix and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with 19% VA. As this blend was intended to be employed as acoustic absorber, hence the morphology and extent of molecular interactions and viscoelastic characteristics play crucial roles, therefore the influence of EVA content upon developed morphology and melt dynamic viscoelastic behaviour was studied. Blend with EPDM/EVA ratio of 80/20 exhibited much higher melt elasticity and viscosity than the pure EPDM, indicating good thermodynamic compatibility. These results implied a good phase compatibility at low EVA level. However, the blend became more heterogeneous in nature at higher EVA content. This was evidenced by decreasing both storage modulus and complex viscosity with increasing the percent of EVA as a result of increasing the number of polar side groups of VA and hence decreasing interfacial compatibility. SEM and AFM analysis revealed matrix-dispersed type of morphology for the blends comprising 20-40 wt.% of EVA, whereas at 50/50 ratio it changed to co-continuous type of morphology.