Structure-Property Relationship of Blends of Ethylene-co-Vinyl Acetate and Epoxidized Natural Rubber

Abstract

The properties of blends of ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) have been studied in relation to their structures by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic mechanical analysis. FTIR spectra of the blends of EVA and ENR show weak dipole-dipole interactions. These blends are incompatible as determined from the dynamic mechanical analysis and further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy studies. In order to understand the influence of interaction between the polymers, the properties of blends of ENR with other reactive polymers such as ethylene-methylacrylate (EMA) and ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer (EAA), have been compared. The higher values of tensile strength and modulus of ENR/EAA are due to the higher level of interaction.

Keywords

rubber-plastic blends ethylene vinyl acetate epoxidized natural rubber FTIR spectroscopy dynamic mechanical analysis

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Paul, D. R. and S. Newman . 1978. Polymer Blends, Vol. I and II, New York: Academic Press, Inc.

2. Bhowmick, A. K. and S. K. De . 1990. Thermoplastic Elastomers from Rubber-Plastic Blends, New York: Ellis Horwood Ltd.

3. Coran, A. Y. 1988. Handbook of Elastomers-New Developments and Technology, A. K. Bhowmick and H. L. Stephens , eds., New York: Marcel Dekker.

4. Roy Choudhury, N. and A. K. Bhowmick . 1990. J Mater Sci., 25:161-161 and 2985-2985.

5. Roy Choudhury, N. and A. K. Bhowmick . 1989. J Appl. Polym. Sci., 38:1091-1091.

6. Roy Choudhury, N. and A. K. Bhowmick . 1988. J. Mater Sci., 23:2187-2187.

7. Mathew, N. M. and A. J. Tinker . 1986. J Nat. Rubb. Res., 1:240-240.

8. Roy, S. , R. N. Santra , G. B. Nando and B. R. Gupta . 1993. Polymer-Plast. Tech. and Engg, 32(4):343-343.

9. Kannan, S. , N. M. Mathew , G. B. Nando and A. K. Bhowmick . Polymer (communicated).

10.

10. Xanthos, M. 1988. Polym. Eng Sci., 28:1392-1392.

11.

11. Bhowmick, A. K. and T. Inoue . 1993. J Appl. Polym. Sci., 49:1893-1893.

12.

12. Bhowmick, A. K. , T. Chiba and T. Inoue . 1993. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 50:501-501.