Abstract
The use of thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) that was obtained from a blend of thermoplastics and natural rubbers are considered suitable for the automotive applications purpose. To modify the performance of TPVs to a high density TPVs, the high density filler such as bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) was added. The focus of this study was on the development of a high density TPVs based on linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/natural rubber (NR) blend with different proportions of Bi₂O₃ filler that meets with requirements for truck floor mats materials. The high density TPVs were prepared by melt blending in a Kneader. Bismuth oxide filler loading was varied by 50; 150; 200; 250 phr and 300 phr. An increase in the weight load of bismuth oxide in TPVs increase density, hardness, and volume loss but reduce the tensile properties, tearing strength, and burning rate of high density TPVs. The test results showed that the TPVs containing 250 phr Bi₂O₃ was a promising candidate for use as a truck floor base.
Highlights
Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are a specific group of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) prepared by dynamic vulcanization of a thermoplastic and an elastomer, where the crosslinking of the elastomeric phase occurs during melt mixing with molten thermoplastics (Bhattacharya et al, 2020)
This paper aimed to develop highdensity thermoplastic vulcanizates based on linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/natural rubber (NR) blend with different proportions of bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) filler that meets with requirements for truck floor mats material
When 300 phr of Bi2O3 filler was added to the TPVS, the density of TPVs increased to 2.82±0.032 g/cm3
Summary
Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are a specific group of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) prepared by dynamic vulcanization of a thermoplastic and an elastomer, where the crosslinking of the elastomeric phase occurs during melt mixing with molten thermoplastics (Bhattacharya et al, 2020). High-density thermoplastic compounds are material have high specific gravity between 2 and 11 by adding high-density mineral filler or metal powder to the plastic matrix (Scheepens, 2016). Many high-density mineral fillers or metal powder are used to make high-density thermoplastic compounds like zinc, brass, silver, bismuth, molybdenum, solid tungsten steel, tungsten bismuth, and copper. Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compound with high specific gravity has a special market, such as for radiation shielding, projectiles, sporting goods, military, automotive, packaging and noise attenuation. One of the applications of high-specific gravity material, that may be used in automotive, is for sound-proof floor mat
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