The Sea‐Island Structured EPDM/PP TPV With Shape Memory Performance In Situ Compatibilized by Magnesium Maleic and Maleic Anhydride

ABSTRACT It is challengeable to obtain shape memory effect in the traditional thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) with sea‐island microstructure. Herein, we successfully achieved shape memory behavior in the type of ethylene propylene diene monomer/polypropylene thermoplastic vulcanizate (EPDM/PP TPV) compatibilized by the graft products of magnesium maleic (MgMA) and maleic anhydride (MAH) on the interface of EPDM/PP. MgMA and MAH derived from the in situ neutralization reaction of maleic acid (MA) with magnesium oxide (MgO) and the dehydration reaction of MA respectively. In this paper, the mole ratio of MA and MgO on the performance of EPDM/PP TPV was studied. With the incorporation of MA and MgO, the mechanical property and shape memory performance were improved. The result of DMA, FTIR, and SEM verified the successful graft reaction of MgMA and MAH on the polymer chains. The compatibilized EPDM/PP TPV achieved the improved mechanical property of tensile strength (12.9 MPa) and elongation at break (583.5%), the increased R f of 96.2% and R r of 86.7% at the tailoring mole ratio of MA:MgO (1:1.5).