Impact modifiers ethylene-propylene rubber

Polypropylene polymers are typically modified with ethylene to obtain desirable properties for specific applications. Specifically, ethylene—propylene mbbers are introduced as a discrete phase in heterophasic copolymers to improve toughness and low temperature impact resistance (see Elastomers, ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE rubber). This is done by sequential polymerisation of homopolymer polypropylene and ethylene—propylene mbber in a multistage reactor process or by the extmsion compounding of ethylene—propylene mbber with a homopolymer. Addition of high density polyethylene, by polymerisation or compounding, is sometimes used to reduce stress whitening. In all cases, a superior balance of properties is obtained when the sise of the discrete mbber phase is approximately one micrometer. Examples of these polymers and their properties are shown in Table 2. Mineral fillers, such as talc or calcium carbonate, can be added to polypropylene to increase stiffness and high temperature properties, as shown in Table 3. 

Figure 14.9 Effect of various impact modifiers (25wt%) on the notched Izod impact strength of recycled PET (as moulded and annealed at 150°C for 16 h) E-GMA, glycidyl-methacrylate-functionalized ethylene copolymer E-EA-GMA, ethylene-ethyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (72/20/8) terpolymer E-EA, ethylene-ethyl acrylate EPR, ethylene propylene rubber MA-GPR, maleic anhydride grafted ethylene propylene rubber MBS, poly(methyl methacrylate)-g-poly(butadiene/styrene) BuA-C/S, poly(butyl acrylate-g-poly(methyl methacrylate) core/shell rubber. Data taken from Akkapeddi etal. [26]...

Polypropylene polymers are typically modified with ethylene to obtain desirable properties for specific applications. Specifically, ethylene-propylene rubbers are introduced as a discrete phase in heterophasic copolymers to improve toughness and low temperature impact resistance. 

ABA ABS ABS-PC ABS-PVC ACM ACS AES AMMA AN APET APP ASA BR BS CA CAB CAP CN CP CPE CPET CPP CPVC CR CTA DAM DAP DMT ECTFE EEA EMA EMAA EMAC EMPP EnBA EP EPM ESI EVA(C) EVOH FEP HDI HDPE HIPS HMDI IPI LDPE LLDPE MBS Acrylonitrile-butadiene-acrylate Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-polycarbonate alloy Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-poly(vinyl chloride) alloy Acrylic acid ester rubber Acrylonitrile-chlorinated pe-styrene Acrylonitrile-ethylene-propylene-styrene Acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate Acrylonitrile Amorphous polyethylene terephthalate Atactic polypropylene Acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile Butadiene rubber Butadiene styrene rubber Cellulose acetate Cellulose acetate-butyrate Cellulose acetate-propionate Cellulose nitrate Cellulose propionate Chlorinated polyethylene Crystalline polyethylene terephthalate Cast polypropylene Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride Chloroprene rubber Cellulose triacetate Diallyl maleate Diallyl phthalate Terephthalic acid, dimethyl ester Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer Ethylene-ethyl acrylate Ethylene-methyl acrylate Ethylene methacrylic acid Ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer Elastomer modified polypropylene Ethylene normal butyl acrylate Epoxy resin, also ethylene-propylene Ethylene-propylene rubber Ethylene-styrene copolymers Polyethylene-vinyl acetate Polyethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers Fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymers Hexamethylene diisocyanate High-density polyethylene High-impact polystyrene Diisocyanato dicyclohexylmethane Isophorone diisocyanate Low-density polyethylene Linear low-density polyethylene Methacrylate-butadiene-styrene... 

The use of olefin rubbers [18] as good impact modifiers for sPS when used in conjunction with S-B or S-B-S block copolymers, which may be hydrogenated in the butadiene phase, has also been described. Instead of butadiene, isoprene can be used. Examples of the olefinic polymers are polyethylene, ethylene-propylene rubbers (EPR) and polypropylene-(ethylene propylene rubber) block copolymers. Here the styrene block copolymers presumably function as... 

Commercial impact modified PP were developed during the early 1970 s by melt blending about 5 to 25 wt% ethylene-propylene rubbers (EP or EPDM) with the polypropylene homopolymer via extruder compounding [Holzar, 1966]. Some LDPE or HOPE is often used to assist the dispersabUity of the EP rubber and enhance the impact/modulus balance of the product [D Orazio,... 

The impact modification of aliphatic PAs has been known for a long time. Impact modifiers for PPA are acrylic polymers composed from of ethylene, n-butylacrylate, acrylic acid, and maleic anhydride. Other types of impact modifiers are ethylene propylene rubbers, grafted with maleic anhydride. ... 

The addition of rubber to polypropylene can lead to improvements in impact resistance. One of the most commonly added elastomers is ethylene-propylene rubber. The elastomer is blended with polypropylene, forming a separate elastomer phase. Rubber can be added in excess of 50 percent to give elastomeric compositions. Compounds with less than 50 percent added rubber are of considerable interest as modified thermoplastics. Impact grades of PP can be formed into films with good puncture resistance. 

Uses of Ethylene-Propylene Rubbers. EPDM and EPR vulcanizates are used in extruded profiles, cable insulation and jacketing, and roofing membranes. There are many automotive uses radiator hose, door and trunk seals, insulation, jacketing, and others. These elastomers are also used in applications such as window and architectural profiles, dock fenders, and washing-machine hoses. In short, their applications are extensive and diverse. Ethylene-propylene rubbers may be the most versatile of general-purpose rubbers. In addition, EP rubbers are added to polyolefin plastics as impact modifiers and as components of certain thermoplastic elastomer compositions (e.g., thermoplastic vulcanizates, which are discussed later in this chapter). 

Figure 6 Particle size dependence of the toughness of a nylon 6 matrix at room temperature [6]. (Two types of functionalized ethylene-propylene rubbers were used as impact modifiers.)...

Impact-modified polypropylene is produced by using two reactors in series [7]. The first produces polypropylene particles, which are fed to the second reactor. A mixture of gaseous ethylene and propylene monomers (but no additional catalyst) is fed to the second reactor. The monomers diffuse to the still-active catalyst within the polypropylene particles from the first reactor, where they copolymerize to form a core of ethylene-propylene rubber within a polypropylene shell. This morphology greatly enhances the impact strength over that of polypropylene alone. 

Rubber modified polypropylene polypropylene/ethylene propylene rubber blends ethylene propylene rubber, polypropylene blends elastomer modified thermoplastic elastomer modified polypropylene impact modified polypropylene olefin thermoplastic elastomer thermoplastic polyolefc rubber. 

The rTPO D143.00, is made with Advanced Donor technology and contains about 25% ethylene-propylene rubber impact modifier as measured by xylene extraction techniques. The Dow PP D143.00 product design is optimized to obtain -40°C ductility in Falling dart tests at 2-3mm wall thickness. 

On the other hand, it is not always necessary that an interfacial agent be present. Polypropylene is available in impact-modified grades which are made by simply blending polypropylene with suitable olefin-based elastomers. Most often the elastomer is a suitably chosen ethylene-propylene-based rubber. Evidently, the required adhesion develops naturally in these systems without the need for an interfacial agent. However, proper control of phase morphology during mixing is essential. 

Impact-modified polypropylenes are produced by combining the homopolymer with an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber. Ziegler-Natta processes yield such products in cascaded reactors. The first reactor in the sequence produces a rigid polymer with a high propylene content and feeds the second reactor, where the ethylene-propylene elastomer is polymerized in intimate mixture with the first material. 

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