Effects of dynamic vulcanization and glycidyl methacrylate on properties of recycled poly(vinyl chloride)/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber blends

Polymer blends with varying amounts of recycled poly(vinyl chloride) (PVCr) and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) have been developed to produce thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The effects of dynamic vulcanization and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) on mechanical and thermal properties, swelling index and morphology properties of the blends were studied. The blends were prepared at 150 degrees C using a rotor speed of 50 rpm for 11 min. It was found that dynamic cross-linking has enhanced the peak stress, stress at 100% elongation, thermal stability and swelling resistance of dynamically vulcanized PVCr/NBR+GMA blends compared to PVCr/NBR blends. The introduction of cross-links into the elastomer phase and better compatibility between PVCr and NBR are responsible for the enhancement of mechanical properties of dynamically vulcanized PVCr/NBR + GMA blends, as evidenced by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of extracted surfaces of the blends. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.