Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene compatibilizer modified low‐temperature resistant based on ethylene propylene diene monomer/polypropylene thermoplastic elastomers

Abstract The thermoplastic vulcanized rubber (TPV) undergoes distinct changes in physical properties and molecular structure under low‐temperature conditions, inherently compromising between low‐temperature resistance and mechanical properties. This study employed maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAH‐g‐PP) as a compatibilizer, where thermally hydrolyzed anhydride groups generated COOH to establish hydrogen bonds and in situ compatibilization. This strategy enhanced ethylene propylene diene monomer/polypropylene (EPDM/PP) interfacial adhesion, simultaneously improving low‐temperature and mechanical properties while balancing their trade‐offs for optimized performance. When MAH‐g‐PP was added at 5 phr, the maximum tensile strength was about 10.72 MPa, which was 82.31% higher, while the material passed brittleness testing at −50°C, demonstrating a balanced improvement in both mechanical and low‐temperature performance. Microscopic morphology analysis showed that the MAH‐g‐PP modification could optimize the structure and properties of TPV materials, which resulted in an “interlocking and co‐continuous” structural morphology between the materials. This structural enhancement significantly improved their compatibility, interfacial bonding, and toughness of materials. Highlights TPV with both mechanical properties and low‐temperature resistance was obtained. The modifier increased the interfacial adhesion between EPDM and PP. A co‐continuous structure of interlocking phases was formed between the two phases. Understanding the capacitance enhancement mechanism of MAH‐g‐PP on EPDM/PP‐TPV.