Effect of the blending processes on selective localization and thermal conductivity of BN in PP/EPDM Co-continuous blends

Abstract In this study, the co-continuous blends of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) were prepared. Boron nitride (BN) nanoparticles were introduced into PP/EPDM blends by different blending processes to prepare the thermal composites. Solvent extraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the location of BN in the immiscible polymer blends. Through controlling the blending process, the BN nanoparticles could be selectively distributed at the PP phase, EPDM phase or interface of the polymer blends. The results showed that BN selectively located in the PP phase can achieve have the highest thermal conductivity when the BN nanoparticles were firstly mixed with PP phase. In addition, the influence of the different mass ratio of PP and EPDM on the thermal properties was also investigated. The blends with the mass ratio of PP/EPDM 50/50 have the highest thermal conductivity.