CROSS-LINKING IN BINARY BLENDS OF POLYISOPRENE WITH POLYCHLOROPRENE OR POLYBUTADIENE

Parameters of network structures formed during the thermal or radiation cross-linking of the blends of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) with polychloroprene or poly(cis-1,4-butadiene) were evaluated using the Mooney-Rivlin and Flory-Rehner equations. The 2C1 and 2C2 constants and the fractional contents of each of the elastomers in swollen networks were found to show different dependence on the compositions of binary blends and the cross-linking procedure. The networks formed by thermal cross-linking were denser and more uniform than those radiation cross-linked. The regions of blend compositions in which the networks formed had different structures were determined and the contribution to the overall network modulus due to the physical nodes was assessed.