SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE-EPDM-STYRENE GRAFT TERPOLYMER

A graft terpolymer of maleic anhydride (MAH) and styrene (St) on ethyl ene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) was obtained using azobisisobuty ronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator in toluene. The effects of EPDM conce ntration, mole ratio of St to MAH, reaction time, reaction temperature , initiator concentration, and solvent on the graft copolymerizations were examined. The synthesized maleic anhydride-EPDM-styrene graft ter polymers (MAES) were identified by IR spectra. It was found that the t hermal stability of the MAES was not good when compared to that of acr ylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), but the light resistance and weatherability of MAPS were superior to those of ABS.