{
  "abstract": "Conventional compatibilization of polypropylene (PP)/mineral composites primarily improves local filler–matrix adhesion and dispersion. This study provides evidence for an elastomer-mediated interparticle bridging mechanism in which maleic anhydride-grafted ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM-g-MA) extends talc-associated polymer regions and promotes long-range elastic connectivity between neighboring platelets. Composites containing 5–40 wt% talc and 2.5–20 wt% EPDM-g-MA were characterized by frequency sweep, stress relaxation, strain sweep, and scanning electron microscopy. PP-g-MA and hybrid PP-g-MA/EPDM systems served as controls to distinguish conventional MA-mediated adhesion, independent elastomer addition, and their integration within EPDM-g-MA. PP-g-MA improved local interfacial continuity without promoting early network formation, whereas the hybrid systems failed to reproduce the low-threshold response of EPDM-g-MA. The apparent rheological network threshold decreased from approximately 40 wt% talc in the uncompatibilized system to approximately 30 wt% at 2.5–5 wt% EPDM-g-MA, 20 wt% at 10 wt%, and ≤5 wt% at 20 wt%. Effective interaction-volume analysis provides a geometric basis for the observed threshold reduction, while the combined rheological and morphological results support the development of talc-associated polymer regions into stress-bearing elastomer-mediated coupling. These findings establish compatibilizer architecture as a powerful strategy for controlling low-threshold melt-state network formation in PP/talc composites.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Polymer Materials Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Yalova University, Yalova 77100, Turkey",
    "Polyshield Engineering Consultancy and R&D Co., Yalova 77100, Turkey"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zeynep Keskin"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Furkan Sarisoy"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Gökçe Yilmaz",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8262-4786"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zuhal Yurtbasi",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2172-3139"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Emine Kasgoz",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-1239-1696"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Alper Kasgoz",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9869-8555"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cvgapxsx9mw1c.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/polym18192396",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13666641/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "cvgapxsx9mw1c",
  "issns": [
    "2073-4360"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666641",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2507|Polymer Nanocomposites and Properties"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214928994",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13666641/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13666641",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cvgapxsx9mw1c.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:35Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13666641",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666641"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:44Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/polym18192396",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/19/2396"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2507|Polymer Nanocomposites and Properties",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Elastomer-Mediated Interparticle Coupling Promotes Low-Threshold Rheological Network Formation in EPDM-g-MA-Compatibilized PP/Talc Composites",
  "title_text": "Elastomer-Mediated Interparticle Coupling Promotes Low-Threshold Rheological Network Formation in EPDM-g-MA-Compatibilized PP/Talc Composites",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:44Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cvgapxsx9mw1c",
  "venue": "Polymers",
  "versions": []
}