In this study, the efficiency of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) in combination with N,N'-m-phenylene-bis-maleimide (BMI) as a crosslinking system for the polypropylene (PP)/nitrile rubber (NBR) (30 : 70 wt %) thermoplastic elastomers was investigated in the presence of compatibilizing agents. The compatibilization was carried Out by maleic anhydride-grafted-PP (PP-g-MA)/amino compound and glycidyl methacrylate-grafted-PP (PP-g-GMA) with or without amino compound. They were employed in a proportion of 5 wt % together with different amounts of carboxylated NBR (XNBR). Excellent mechanical properties were achieved without the addition of compatibilizer, Suggesting that BMI should act as compatibilizing agent. The other functionalized systems exerted an additional improvement on tensile properties and reprocessing ability. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, oil resistance, and morphology were investigated. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 110: 35663573, 2008