Tensile Properties and Melt Flow Index of Polypropylene/Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Nanocomposites

In this article, we report three nanofillers filled polymer composite systems. Nanofillers composed of alumina, titania and organoclay were embedded separately in 50% polypropylene (PP) and 50% ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) blends. The nanocomposites were prepared using an internal mixer and were molded using a compression mold to form test samples. Effect of filler loading (2, 4, 6, and 8 vol.%) on the tensile properties and melt flow index (MFI) were determined. The mechanical properties of alumina are the highest compared to titania and organoclay. Alumina and organoclay shows an ascending trend in tensile strength with the increase of nanofiller loading. In contrast, the increment of titania filler loading reduces the tensile strength of the nanocomposites. The Young's modulus of the nanocomposites increases with the addition of filler loading. Elongation at break of the nanocomposites shows a descending trend with the addition of filler loading. The addition of 8 vol. % titania and organoclay slightly changes the MFI of the PP/EPDM nanocomposites whereas the addition of 8 vol. % alumina drastically decreased the MFI values. Further addition of nanofillers up to 8 vol. % decreases the MFI values of the PP/EPDM nanocomposites.