Preparation of ethylene-propylene-rubber/graphene nanocomposites via an in situ polymerization method with supported metallocene catalyst

In this research, ethylene propylene rubber (EPR)/graphene nanocomposites with varying graphene feed ratios were prepared by using an in situ polymerization method with a graphene supported metallocene catalyst. The effects of catalyst loading, polymerization temperature, and reaction time on the polymerization behaviors were studied. Through changing the polymerization conditions, the EPR graphene nanocomposites with graphene contents in the range of 1.4∼4.7 wt% were obtained. Upon introducing graphene, the thermal stability of EPR was markedly improved and increased with graphene content increase. With regards to the degradation temperature at 5 wt% loss of EPR graphene nanocomposites, the addition of 4.7 wt% of gr aphene resulted in increases of 50.5 °C, when compared to pure EPR. The obtained EPR/g raphene sample was further used as a masterbatch for melt blending with commercial ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. The addition of 0.5 wt% graphene increased the stress (at 100%), tensile strength, and elongation at break of EPDM by 80%, 100%, and 91%, respectively.