A Type of Low‐Temperature Resistant Material Based on Ethylene Propylene Monomer/Polypropylene Thermoplastic Vulcanizates Compatibilized by Polyisobutylene

ABSTRACT Thermoplastic vulcanized rubber (TPV) result in intermaterial incompatibility due to the thermodynamic incompatibility of the components that make up their soft and hard segments, which results in significant low‐temperature brittleness and poor mechanical properties of the material. And the low‐temperature properties of thermoplastic elastomers, especially based on ethylene propylene monomer/polypropylene (EPDM/PP) thermoplastic elastomers, and the corresponding mechanism of action have not been elucidated. The balance between low temperature performance and mechanical properties is a real challenge for TPV. In this paper, polyisobutylene (PIB1300) was introduced into the interstices of the molecular chain as an adhesive plasticizer to enhance the interfacial adhesion between PP and EPDM. The torque change showed that the presence of PIB1300 increased the interfacial interaction between PP and EPDM. The contact angle test and the calculation of the compatibilizer's position of action further confirmed that PIB1300 could be used as an effective compatibilizer to improve the compatibility of the material. When the amount of PIB1300 was 3 phr, EPDM/PP with both mechanical properties and compatibility, low temperature resistance, low temperature elasticity, and low temperature brittleness was finally determined, and the tensile strength of the material was 12.34 MPa, which was by 109.86%.