Radiation fabrication and characterization of the nanocomposite: Waste polyethylene /ethylene propylene diene/treated nanokaolin

In this study, Kaolin modified with vinyltriethoxysilane (SMK) was compounded with the blend, waste polyethylene /ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), 50/50 wt%, by melt intercalation. The effect of SMK loading on the physicomechanical properties of the blend was examined by varying its incorporation (3–15 phr). The composites were irradiated using gamma irradiation within the range 25–200 kGy. Tensile and modulus parameters were investigated at various feed ratios of SMK at variable gamma radiation dose. The thermal stability was examined for various composites using thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the tensile properties increased with increasing filler loading, conversely, swelling index reduced. Furthermore, the chemical crosslink density of 0.96 at 15 phr SMK indicated utmost reinforcement through blend‐filler matrix. Similarly the morphological studies, by scanning electron microscopy, supported the structural impact at that feed via improvement in the failure properties of the resulting composite. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:616–623, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers