Polyamide 6/maleated ethylene-propylene-diene rubber/organoclay composites with or without glycidyl methacrylate as a compatibilizer

Polyamide 6 (PA6)/maleated ethylene–propylene–diene rubber (EPDM-g-MA)/organoclay (OMMT) composites were melt-compounded through two blending sequences. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was used as a compatibilizer for the ternary composites. The composite prepared through via the premixing of PA6 with OMMT and then further melt blending with EPDM-g-MA exhibited higher impact strength than the composite prepared through the simultaneous blending of all the components. However, satisfactorily balanced mechanical properties could be achieved by the addition of GMA through a one-step blending sequence. The addition of GMA improved the compatibility between PA6 and EPDM-g-MA, and this was due to the reactions between PA6, EPDM-g-MA, and GMA, as proved by Fourier transform infrared analysis and solubility (Molau) testing. In addition, OMMT acted as a compatibilizer for PA6/EPDM-g-MA blends at low contents, but it weakened the interfacial interactions between PA6 and EPDM-g-MA at high contents. Both OMMT and GMA retarded the crystallization of PA6. The complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus of the composites were obviously affected by the addition of OMMT and GMA.