Studies on grafting of tris(2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane onto ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer

New graft copolymer was prepared by incorporating tris(2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane (TMEVS) on ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) by using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as initiator, in Haake Rheocord 90 torque rheometer. The effect of EPDM concentration, TMEVS concentration, reaction time, reaction temperature and initiator concentration on the graft co polymerization was studied. The grafting efficiency of TMEVS on EPDM was confirmed by Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The grafting efficiency increased with increase in the silane concentration upto 6% by weight. The grafting efficiency decreased beyond 6% by weight due to homopolymerization of TMEVS and non-availability of carbon–carbon double bond in the EPDM terpolymer. The thermal properties of peroxide cured EPDM and hot water cured EPDM-g-TMEVS were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The results show thermal properties like degradation tempertature and glass transition temperature of the EPDM-g-TMEVS were increased due to introduction of TMEVS on to EPDM terpolymer as well as the formation of thermally stable three-dimensional network. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.