| Abstract: | Ground rubber tire (GRT) powder was maleated in an internal mixer using maleic anhydride and dicumyl peroxide at 160°C. Maleated GRT was characterized by using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, wettability, and differential scanning calorimetry. The physical properties of the dynamically vulcanized 60 : 40, rubber : plastic composition based on acrylated high‐density polyethylene as the plastic phase and ethylene propylene diene rubber containing maleated GRT as the rubber phase were found to be greater than the corresponding composition containing nonmaleated GRT. The blend was found to be reprocessable, like themoplastic elastomers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 370–378, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10348 |
