Enhancement in the mechanical property of NBR/PVC nanocomposite by using sulfur and electron beam curing in the presence of Cloisite 30B nanoclay

Abstract

Blends of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) with polyvinylchloride (PVC) form thermoplastic elastomers that are miscible in all compositions. NBR-PVC elastomers are used in many industries such as cable sheathing, flexible films and food industry. Cross-linking of polymer fibers through electron bombardment is a safe and environment friendly way because it does not require the use of any chemical substance such as accelerator, activator and sulfur. In this study, the properties of NBR-PVC blend in the presence (3, 5 and 8 weight percent) and absence of Cloisite30B nanoclay with sulfur and electron beam (irradiation doses of 0, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 kGy) curing are studied with clear rate 70/30 by melt blending in an internal mixer. The stress at 100, 200 and 300% elongation at break is studied for the evaluation of tensile strength and mechanical properties. The results showed that the nanocomposite containing 8% by weight of nanoclay cured with the electron beam with 100 kGy dose has the most desirable properties which demonstrate not only good distribution of nanoclay in the polymer matrix but also excellent polymer matrix with nanoclay plates, compared with samples cured with sulfur.