Compositional effect on thermo-mechanical, thermal and tensile properties of cis-polyisoprene and chloroprene rubber blends

ABSTRACT

Blends of cis-polyisoprene (CPI) and chloroprene rubber (CR) have been prepared in different blend compositions by solution casting. Structural characterization of these blends has been done using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental values of thermo-mechanical properties, mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of so-prepared blends determined using dynamic mechanical analyzer and thermal constant analyzer have been presented. Crosslink density has been determined using different models. Experimental results from thermo-mechanical properties show that all the blends are immiscible. Tensile strength, toughness, Young's modulus and thermal conductivity of these blends were found to be higher than that of pure CPI and pure CR. However, mechanical properties of 25/75(V/V) of CPI/CR blend and thermal conductivity of 75/25(V/V) of CPI/CR blend have been found to be highest.

KEYWORDS:

• Tensile strength
• toughness
• Young's modulus
• crosslink density
• thermal conductivity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB, DST), New Delhi [grant number SR/FTP/PS-146/2011] under FAST TRACK Scheme for Young Scientist.