Fatigue Behavior of Dynamically Vulcanized Poly(Vinyl Chloride)/Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Thermoplastic Elastomers

Abstract

Dynamically vulcanized poly(vinyl chloride)=nitrile butadiene rubber (PVC=NBR), thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) were melt mixed at 150 C and 50 rev. min. À1 with a Brabender Plasticorder. Curatives concentration was varied from 0 to 1 phr in order to study the effect of dynamic curing on the plastified formulations. The compounds were characterized with respect to their fatigue life, the strain energy and its exponent, rebound resilience, abrasion resistance, and viscoelastic behavior. Profound enhancement in the fatigue life of the dynamically vulcanized formulations reduced damping and improved rebound resilience. The observed scenario has been attributed to the increase in the degree of curing.