Effect of nitrile rubber on mechanical, thermal, rheological and flammability properties of recycled blend

The recycled polymeric constituents have a huge potential to be reformed into new products. However, due to the lower toughness of the recycled plastic blends limits it from the further industrial applications. Therefore, current work analyses the potential of nitrile rubber (NBR) on property enhancement of recycled blend, prepared from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The effect of NBR on the mechanical properties of the recycled blend especially toughness, flexural strength and surface hardness were studied in detail. 9 wt% of NBR in the recycled blend has shown a higher toughness value as compared to other systems. Similarly, flammability analysis results reveals that NBR can potentially enhances the flame retardancy of the recycled blend. In addition, NBR effectively changes the rheological properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus and complex viscosity of the recycled blend system. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transition electron microscopy (TEM) analysis suggests the possible toughening mechanism present in the recycled blend. (C) 2019 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.