MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF BINARY BLENDS

BASED ON EPDM AND LLDPE

Johar Iqbal, K. N. Pandey, Vishal Verma, R. M. Mishra
Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology, Lucknow, India-226008
Correspondence to: Johar Iqbal (johar.ilahi@gmail.com)

Abstract
EPDM/LLDPE binary blends have been prepared with aid of two roll mixing mill at various
blend ratios. Effect of LLDPE content on mechanical and thermal properties of the blend is
investigated. The mechanical properties results demonstrate that there is appreciable
enhancement of tensile strength, hardness and most importantly puncture resistance of the
blends with the increase of LLDPE content. Thermo-gravimetric analysis has been carried
out to analyse thermal stability of developed blends. The results obtained for various
properties reveal that EPDM/LLDPE blends have improved mechanical and thermal
properties. FTIR study has also been carried out to study the structure property relationship
of the blends.
Key words: LLDPE, EPDM, Puncture resistance, Tensile strength, FTIR, Thermal
stability.

1. INTRODUCTION
Polymer blends, by definition, are physical mixtures of structurally different homo or
copolymers. In the past 40 years, research into polymer blends has increased significantly.
Blending has several sound economic advantages. A considerable amount of work has been
reported on the blends of polyolefin and ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) due to
their commercial importance. Ethylene-propylene rubbers & elastomers (also called EPDM
and EPM) continue to be one of the most widely used and fastest growing synthetic rubbers
having both specialty and general-purpose applications. Versatility in polymer design and
performance has resulted in broad usage in automotive weather-stripping and seals, glass-run
channel, radiator, garden and appliance hose, tubing, belts, electrical insulation, roofing
membrane, rubber mechanical goods, plastic impact modification and motor oil additive
applications. EPDM is widely used in roofing. EPDM roofing is most commonly known as
rubber roofing, rubber membrane roofing, or rolled rubber roofing. EPDM is an extremely
durable synthetic rubber roofing membrane (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) widely
used in low-slope buildings in the United States and worldwide but EPDM roofing can also
puncture fairly easily, so falling branches, or a workman wearing the wrong type of boots
could easily tear a hole in the roof any kind of water infiltration into the structure can cause
additional problems. In this present investigation The blends of EPDM and LLDPE were

prepared in a roll mill to enhance the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness
and the most important puncture resistance and thermal properties.

2. Materials and Characteristics

(i)

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM)

EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer) a type of synthetic rubber is
an elastomer characterized by a wide range of applications. EPDM rubber is
closely related to ethylene propylene rubber. Ethylene propylene rubber is a
copolymer of ethylene and propylene whereas EPDM rubber is a terpolymer of
ethylene, propylene and a diene-component. In EPDM the ethylene content is
around 45% to 85%. The higher the ethylene content, the higher the loading
possibilities of the polymer, better mixing, and extrusion.

(ii)

Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

LLDPE is a co-polymer of ethylene with five to ten percent alpha olefins. It is a
linear polymer with systematically introduced side chains through alpha olefins.
This material was commercialised by Dow chem. Co., in 1977. It is having faster
growth rate than other polyethylene. LLDPE is stiffer than LDPE and also have
higher tear resistance than LDPE. It has high toughness even at high temperature.
It has higher puncture resistance.

A molecule of branched polyethylene or LDPE

A molecule of branched LLDPE

Fig.1 LDPE and LLDPE STRUCTURE

3. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
3.1 Method of Blend Preparation
In this research work, the blending process of EPDM/LLDPE involves the use of a two roll
mill. Several formulations containing EPDM and LLDPE were prepared. EPDM was blended
with LLDPE in different weight ratios of EPDM/LLDPE (100, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40,
50/50). These compounds were mixed at 110-120C in open two roll mill for 10min to 20min
at a speed of 19.03rpm. The mixing machine open roll mill was heated to 110C and kept
constant before used. LLDPE was first introduced into mixing mill. When it was totally
melted, EPDM were added consecutively. The blend then was mixed within 10 to 20 min
which depends upon the types of formation and compression moulded using at 140.c, in 12
min into sheets approximately 4 mm thick with hot pressing equipment. Finally, the resulting
sheet was cooled down quickly by cold water to ambient temperature.

4. METHOD OF CHARACTERIZATION
The various characterization techniques used for the purpose of different types of study can
be divided into following categories:4.1 Mechanical Properties: (i) Tensile Strength (ii) Hardness (iii) Puncture resistance
4.3 Thermal characterization: Thermo-gravimetric analyser (TGA)
4.2 Morphological characterization: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
4.1 Mechanical properties
The mechanical tests were performed on a Universal Testing Machine (INSTRON, USA)
with the maximum load capacity 100KN. Tensile tests were conducted according to ASTMD638. For each composition five measurements were taken and average value of strength and
elongation were reported. Hardness was measured by Shore- A Durometer tester to ASTMD2240. Puncture resistance test were also carried out on an Instron (USA), Universal testing
Machine.
4.2 Thermo-gravimetric analyser (TGA)
Thermo-gravimetric analyzer studies has been conducted by using a Perkin-Elmer Pyres
TGA, in the temperature range of 50-650 C under a constant heating rate of 10 C/min in
nitrogen atmosphere for thermal stability studies of the developed blends.

5. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

5.1 Mechanical Properties:
The EPDM/LLDPE blends were tested for various properties such as Tensile Strength,
Elongation at Break, Hardness and Puncture Resistance. The results shows from table 2, the
mechanical properties results demonstrate that there is appreciable enhancement of tensile

strength; hardness and most importantly puncture resistance of the blends with the increase of
LLDPE content
Table 1: Mechanical properties of EPDM/LLDPE blends
Tensile strength at
Sample
Puncture Resistance (kgf)
break (MPa)
cede
A

0.96

2.16

2.26

2.52

2.58

3.51

3.35

5.24

3.62

5.36

4.30

6.15
Tensile strength

5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
Tensile Strength (MPa)
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
A

Fig. 2. Comparison of the tensile strength value for sample

Puncture resistance
7
6
5
4
Puncture resistance (Kgf) 3
2
1
0
A

Fig.3. Comparison of the puncture resistance value for samples

5.2 Thermal Characterization:

Thermo-gravimetric analyser (TGA) of EPDM/LLDPE blends of different sample has been

done and the %wt loss with respect to temperature is shown in fig.5 . The minimum %wt loss
is observed in the sample E EPDM/LLDPE (60/40) blend.

Fig.4. TGA curve of EPDM/LLDPE blends at different

%wt loss.

6. CONCLUSION
In this research work the mechanical and thermal properties of EPDM/LLDPE blends are
experimentally investigated. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness, and
most importantly puncture resistance are increased with increased the LLDPE content in the
blends. This showed the remarkable enhancement when compared to virgin Ethylene
Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM). The maximum puncture resistance is observed in
EPDM/LLDPE (50/50) sample (F). The minimum %wt. loss is observed in the sample E
EPDM/LLDPE (60/40) blend.

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