Modification of CeO 2 and its effect on physical and mechanical properties of gamma irradiated EPDM rubber nanocomposite contain montmorillonite modified nanoclay

The modified CeO 2 was prepared by a chemical surface modification method. The action of CeO 2 powders in EPDM composites contain 10 phr modified clay was studied. The effects of content and surface modification of CeO 2 powders on the properties of the EPDM composites containing 10 phr modified clay rubber was discussed. The results showed that the mechanical, volume resistivity and thermal properties of EPDM rubber filled with the modified CeO 2 increased by loading of modified CeO 2 . And the tensile strength of EPDM composites containing modified CeO 2 is higher than that with the unmodified CeO 2 . The surface of modified CeO 2 powders had a hydrophobic organized layer which could increase interface cohesion with the rubber and dispersity in rubber resulting in exerting reinforcement effect. The effect of coagent on the physical and thermal properties of EPDM rubber composites was studied. The results showed that the physical and thermal properties of EPDM rubber composites increased with the addition of the coagent due to the increase of the crosslinking density. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:E201–E210, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers