THERMOREVERSIBLE CROSS-LINKING OF MALEATED ETHYLENE/PROPYLENE RUBBER USING IONIC INTERACTIONS,HYDROGEN BONDING AND A COMBINATION THEREOF

摘要

Maleated ethylene/propylene copolymer(MAn-g-EPM)was thermoreversibly cross-linked using different routes,i.e.,ionic interactions(ionomers),hydrogen bonding and a combination thereof Microphase separation into polar MAn-rich aggregates occurs for MAn-g-EPM and all cross-linked materials,which act as physical cross-links.The cross-link density does not change upon modification,but the strength of the aggregates is significantly increased,resulting in improved mechanical properties.All materials except the potassium ionomer with high degree of neutralization(DN)could be remolded into homogeneous and smooth films without chemical changes,indicating that the cross-links are truly thermoreversible.