High-impact composites of polypropylene and nitrile butadiene rubber with improved compatibility of the polymer components, obtained by melt reactive compounding. Part 1: The influence of the nature of the polar vinyl monomer on the impact strength and deformation strength properties of the composites

The effect of the components of the modifying system on the impact strength and deformation strength characteristics of polypropylene/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composites obtained by reactive compounding was investigated. Studies were conducted on composites containing 23 wt% BNKS-18AMN nitrile butadiene rubber and peroxide modifying system coagents – polar vinyl monomers: maleic anhydride (MA), its polyester with monoethylene glycol (MEG), and a complex of MEG with aromatic amine antioxidant Diaphene FP (DFP). At the same time, we introduced presynthesised compatibilisers based on blends of polypropylene with elastomers of different polarity: ternary ethylene propylene diene copolymer (EPDM) and an NBR modified by grafting of MA or MEG + DFP. It was established that, in this series of coagents, the MEG + DFP complex ensures the most effective dispersion of the BNKS-18AMN phase in the polypropylene matrix during reactive compounding of composites and, in accordance with this, leads to a significant increase in their impact strength and elongation at break. Here, the greatest specificity and effectiveness are possessed by compatibilisers into which an elastomer phase has been introduced: blends of polypropylene with non-polar EPDM, modified with MA, or blends with polar BNKS-18AMN, modified with an MEG + DFP complex. © 2018, SAGE Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.