Effect of organoclay content on the rheology, morphology, and physical properties of polyolefin...

The effect of onium-ion exchanged montmorillonite clay (organoclay) on the rheology and physical properties of maleated ethylene-octene copolymer and ethylene-propylene rubber elastomers has been examined. The formation of a nanocomposite hybrid, containing substantial amounts of exfoliated clay, was accompanied by significant increases in the complex viscosity, elastic and loss moduli, and a narrowing of the region of linear viscoelasticity, attributed to both filler/polymer and filler/filler interactions. The properties of blends of these elastomers with polypropylene were dominated by