Strengthening effect of mullins effect under tearing mode and its reversibility for zinc dimethacrylate-reinforced thermoplastic vulcanizates based on ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer/nitrile-butadiene rubber blends

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer (EAA)/nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and zinc dimethacrylate (ZDMA) reinforced EAA/NBR blends were prepared by dynamical vulcanization, the mechanical properties and Mullins effect of the TPVs under tearing mode were investigated systematically. Experimental results indicated that the increasing EAA dosage in the EAA/NBR TPVs and the incorporation of ZDMA in NBR phase of TPVs could all lead to the increase of tear strength. The Mullins effect of EAA/NBR and EAA/NBR/ZDMA TPVs could be observed obviously under tearing mode, while it was hardly to obverse in that of static NBR vulcanizate during the cyclic deformation.