Dynamically Vulcanized Nitrile Butadiene Rubber/Ethylene-vinyl Acetate Copolymer Blends Compatibilized by Chlorinated Polyethylene

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) blends were prepared by dynamic vulcanization, with the TPVs being compatibilized by chlorinated polyethylene (CPE). The effects of CPE compatibilizer on the mechanical and morphological properties of the TPVs were investigated systematically. Experimental results showed that the dynamically vulcanized NBR/EVA blends compatibilized by CPE had obvious elastomeric behavior and improved mechanical properties, indicating that CPE had a good compatibilization effect on the NBR/EVA TPVs. The fracture surface morphology of the compatibilized NBR/EVA TPV was somewhat rougher than that of uncompatibilized NBR/EVA; the large deformation during the tensile fracture could recover well and less notable, smaller diameter drawn fibrils were observed. Moreover, the interface interaction was strong and there was no obvious microphase separation. NBR particles were dispersed evenly in the etched surfaces of the NBR/EVA/CPE TPV.