EFFECT OF CLAY ON PROPERTIES OF IONIC THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER BASED ON EPDM

Incorporation of hard clay causes improvement in most of the physical properties of zinc-sulfonated EPDM of high ethylene content. Zinc stea rate reduces the melt viscosity of the clay-filled zinc-sulfonated EPD M during high-temperature processing, but does not adversely affect th e physical properties at ambient temperatures. Studies include the mea surement of physical properties, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), p rocessability studies in a Monsanto processability tester (MPT), and d ynamic mechanical analyses (DMA). (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.