Properties of EPDM/PP thermoplastic vulcanizates produced by an intermeshing-type internal mixer comparing with a co-rotating twin-screw extruder

Abstract

Abstract A unique technology for producing thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) has been developed using an intermeshing-type internal mixer (ITM). TPV produced by the ITM was compared with that produced using a co-rotating twin screw extruder (Co-TSE) to assess the former’s commercial possibilities. TPV, originating from ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) and polypropylene (PP), was produced by both machines with equal filled volumes, same shear rate, and same specific mechanical energy. Results indicate that ITMs can be used to produce TPV with mechanical properties comparable to those of TPV produced by Co-TSE. TPV can be produced with a lower shear rate with ITM compared to Co-TSE. A long residence time can be maintained in the mixing chamber of the ITM, allowing high conversion of the cross-linking reaction and resulting in better elastic recovery properties due to the higher cross-linking density. However, this resulted in higher viscosity of TPV produced by ITM.