Effects of Dynamic Vulcanization and Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA) on mechanical properties, swelling index and morphology properties of Recycled Poly(vinyl chloride)/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (PVCr/NBR) blends

Polymer blends with varying amounts of recycled Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVCr) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) have been developed to produced Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs). The effects dynamic vulcanization and Glycidyl Methacrylate (GMA) on mechanical properties, swelling index and morphology properties of the blends were studied. This blends were prepared using a Haake Rheomix at 27°C and rotor speed of 50rpm for 11 minutes. It was found that, dynamic crosslinking has enhanced the stress peak, stress at 100% elongation and swelling resistance of dynamically vulcanized PVCr/NBR + GMA blends compare to PVCr/NBR blends. The introduction of cross-link into the elastomer phase and better compability between PVCr and NBR are responsible for the enhancement og mechanical properties of dynamically vulcanized PVCr/NBR + GMA blends as evidence from the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of extracted surfaces of the blends.