The use of waste rubber in natural rubber in the presence of maleic anhydride-grafted natural rubber (MA-g-NR): study on curing, rheology, morphology, and properties of the blend

Abstract

Abstract The direct incorporation of ground tire rubber (GTR) as a waste rubber into a virgin polymer matrix causes a remarkable reduction in its mechanical and performance properties. In this work, maleic anhydride-grafted natural rubber (MA-g-NR) was employed as a compatibilizer to improve the interaction between a natural rubber (NR) matrix and GTR. The effect of MA-g-NR on curing characteristics, rheological behavior, morphology, and performance properties of the NR-GTR blend was studied using an oscillating disk rheometer, rheomechanical spectroscopy (RMS), scanning electron microcopy (SEM), and tensile and abrasion testing. The obtained results by RMS and SEM tests revealed better adhesion between NR and GTR in the presence of MA-g-NR. Using up to 8 parts of MA-g-NR caused an increase in the curing rate index, and a remarkable increase in mechanical properties and abrasion resistance was observed, which was comparable to or even better than the virgin vulcanizate.