High-performance EPDM/organoclay nanocomposites by melt extrusion

Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM)/organoclay nanocomposites were prepared by melt extrusion in a twin-screw extruder. The organoclay was characterized by XRD and TGA. As observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the organoclay particles were exfoliated in EPDM. The tensile strength of the nanocomposites increased to 12.3 MPa at the same 3.0 phr amounts of fillers, which was a five-fold increase compared to pure EPDM and 2.8 times compared to the nanocomposite prepared by direction blending; furthermore it was above that of carbon black composites with 15.0 phr. The results of co-reinforcement system exploited a promising application prospect of the organoclay and the nanocomposites. The processability of the terpolymer was improved as a result of the decrease of mooney viscosity; the improvement of the thermal stability of the nanocomposite was determined by TGA.