Synthesis and Characterization of Glycidyl Methacrylate-GraftedEthylene-Propylene Diene Terpolymer Employing Styrene as aComonomer

Melt free-radical grafting reactions between ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) andglycidyl methacrylate (GMA) were investigated in the presence and absence of styrene (St) comonomerin a batch mixer (۱۷۰°C, ۶۰rpm). Effect of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) initiator, GMA and styreneconcentrations were studied on the grafted EPDM characteristics. Titration results indicated anincrease in the graft degree (GD) and gel content (GC) values with increasing DCP concentration.Whereas, introduction of St led to ۱۳۲% increase in GD and ۳۹% decrease in GC which might beascribed to its effect on restricting crosslinking side-reaction. FTIR spectrums confirmed that GMA hasbeen successfully grafted onto EPDM.