Styrene/Acrylonitrile Graft Natural Rubber as Compatibilizer in Rubber Blends

Abstract

A graft copolymer of acrylonitrile (ACN) and styrene (ST) on natural rubber (NR) was prepared by solution polymerization initiated by benzoyl peroxide. The effect of graft NR (GNR) applied as a compatibilizer for NR/nitrile rubber (NBR) blends on their mechanical and physical properties was investigated. The results revealed that the tensile properties and oil-swelling resistance of the blends increased with increasing %graft copolymer of GNR. The tensile fracture surfaces of the compatibilized NR/NBR vulcanizates attested by scanning electron microscopy indicated the improvement of interfacial adhesion between two rubber phases. Moreover, the dynamic mechanical properties of compatibilized vulcanizates were also reported.

Keywords:

• Acrylonitrile
• Compatibilization
• Graft copolymerization
• Natural rubber
• Nitrile rubber

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Graduate School of Chulalongkorn University, the Ratchadapiseksompoch Fund, Chulalongkorn University, The National Research University Project of CHE, the Ratchadaphiseksomphot Endowment Fund (AM1024I), and the Project for Establishment of Comprehensive Center for Innovative Food, Health Products and Agriculture (PERFECTA) for financial support. Many thanks to the technicians of the Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, for providing the chemicals and facilities throughout this research. The authors also wish to express their appreciation to Dr. Robert Douglas John Butcher (Publication Counseling Unit, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University) for English language editing.

Notes

*The standard deviation is in the parenthesis.

*The standard deviation is in the parenthesis.