F-7 IN SITU-REINFORCING ELASTOMER COMPOSITE BASED ON POLYOLEFINIC THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER AND THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMER(Session: Composites II)

In this study, In situ-reinforcing elastomer composites based on Santoprene thermoplastic elastomer (a polymerized polyolefin compound of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) and polypropylene (PP)) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP), Rodrun LC3000, were prepared using a single screw extruder. The effect of TLCP contents on rheological behavior, morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of the blends were investigated. All neat sample and their blends exhibited shear thinning behavior. TLCP acted as a processing aid during processing; the viscosity of the blends gradually decreased with increasing TLCP contents. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of Santoprene were significantly improved by addition of TLCP.