Natural Rubber Poly Research Articles

Sorption and Mechanical Properties of Nitrile Rubber Compatibilized Natural Rubber—Poly (Ethylene-Co-Vinyl Acetate) Blends

Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) has been used as a compatibilizer for natural rubber—poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (NR—EVA) blends, vulcanized by sulfur. A significant reduction in solvent uptake is observed for compatibilized samples. This has been explained in terms of the increased interfacial adhesion between NR and EVA components of the blends in the presence of the compatibilizer. The threshold compatibilizer loading has been found to be 6 phr. The observed sorption features have been complemented by the evaluation of the surface morphology and mechanical properties of the blends. The kinetics of transport process through the compatibilized blends has also been discussed.

Modification of natural rubber latex. II. Natural rubber poly(methyl methacrylate) composite latexes synthesized using an amine‐activated hydroperoxide

AbstractComposite latex particles based on natural rubber latex have been synthesized to yield materials which may be formally regarded as interpenetrating polymer networks and semiinterpenetrating polymer networks. Methyl methacrylate was added to a carefully stabilized natural rubber latex and polymerized in situ using an amine‐activated initiator, tert‐butyl hydroperoxide. The resulting materials were cast to yield solid sheets. The morphology of the materials was determined both by transmission electron microscopy and by dynamic mechanical analysis. In addition the stress–strain behavior was studied.