EFFECT OF EPDM ON THE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF BLENDS OF HIGH AND LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE

We studied the effect of adding ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) to blends of high (HDPE) and low (LDPE) density polyethylene. The ext rusion torque of the blend without EPDM shows a deviation from the lin ear addition rule, but blends with rubber follow the addition rule. Tw o composition regions that are compatible with the torque behavior are present in the Young's modulus and extension at break curves. The EPD M content improves the extension at break of LDPE rich blends. This im provement extends to higher compositions of HDPE as the EPDM content i s increased.