EPDM Elastomer and Biothermoplastic Polyester-based Silicate-layered Multifunctional Nanocomposites Incorporated with Poly(MA-alt-α-olefin)-g-APTS-SiO₂ NPs and PP-g-MA by Reactive Extrusion Nanotechnology

ABSTRACT

Multifunctional polymer blend nanocomposites consisting EPDM elastomer as a matrix polymer, bioengineering polyesters (PLA and PCL), PP-g-MA compatibilizer and covalently encapsulated colloidal alternating reactive copolymer-g-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane-silica nanoparticles as reactive compatibilizer nanofillers, and organoclay (reactive ODA-MMT and complexable DMDA-MMT) nanofillers were fabricated in melt by a one-step reactive extrusion nanotechnology. The effects of bioengineering polyesters and their molecular mass, origin of organology, and reactive PP-g-MA compatibilizer were evaluated. Unique nanostructures, lower particle sizes and crystallinity, SEM–TEM morphologies, higher thermal behaviors, good mechanical and rheological properties of thermoplastic multifunctional nanocomposites were evaluated.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Bioengineering polyesters
• copolymer-g-silica NPs
• EPDM rubber
• nanocomposites
• nanostructure–composition–property relationships
• organoclays
• polymer compatibilizer

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBITAK) and Hacettepe University (HU) Scientific Research Unit for the financial supports of this work through Projects TBAG-HD/249 and HU-BAP-6080 (No. 014d01601003), respectively. Authors also thank the R&D Departments of Profile Standard Co. (Düzce, Turkey) and PETKIM Petrochemical Holding Inc. SOCAR Power Energy Investments Inc. (Izmir, Turkey) for supports to investigate the mechanical properties of nanocomposites.