synthesis and characterization of glycidyl methacrylate-grafted ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer employing styrene as a comonomer

Melt free-radical grafting reactions between ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (epdm) and glycidyl methacrylate (gma) were investigated in the presence and absence of styrene (st) comonomer in a batch mixer (170°c, 60rpm). effect of dicumyl peroxide (dcp) initiator, gma and styrene concentrations were studied on the grafted epdm characteristics. titration results indicated an increase in the graft degree (gd) and gel content (gc) values with increasing dcp concentration. whereas, introduction of st led to 132% increase in gd and 39% decrease in gc which might be ascribed to its effect on restricting crosslinking side-reaction. ftir spectrums confirmed that gma has been successfully grafted onto epdm.