Morphological structure and surface properties of maleated ethylene propylene diene monomer/organoclay nanocomposites

Abstract The phase morphology and surface properties of some maleated ethylene propylene‐diene/organoclay nanocomposites (EPDM‐ g ‐MA/OC) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. The effect of organoclay and/or compatibilizing agent [maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (PP‐ g ‐MA)] on the properties of the EPDM‐ g ‐MA nanocomposites was investigated. The quality and uniformity of nanoclay dispersion were analyzed by SEM and AFM images. The experimental results showed an intercalate structure and biphasic morphology for the binary blends based on EPDM and clay. The surface properties of the studied composites are significantly influenced by the presence of a compatibilizing agent—PP‐ g ‐MA. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers