Preparation of dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites based on LLDPE/reclaimed rubber

Abstract

Dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers nanocomposites (TPV nanocomposites) based on linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/reclaimed rubber/organoclay were prepared via one-step melt blending process. Maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA) was used as a compatibilizing agent. The effects of reclaimed rubber content (10, 30, and 50 wt %), nanoclay content (3, 5, and 7 wt %), and PE-g-MA on the microstructure, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, and rheological behavior of the nanocomposites were studied. The TPV nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter, mechanical properties, and rheometry in small amplitude oscillatory shear. SEM photomicrographs of the etched samples showed that the elastomer particles were dispersed homogeneously throughout the polyethylene matrix and the size of rubber particles was reduced with introduction of the organoclay particles and compatibilizer. The effects of different nanoclay contents, different rubber contents, and compatibilizer on mechanical properties were investigated. Increasing the amount of nanoclay content and adding the compatibilizer result in an improvement of the tensile modulus of the TPV nanocomposite samples.

Blends of ground tire rubber devulcanized by microwaves/HDPE - Part B: influence of clay addition

“…The poor adhesion between the phases and the large particle size of the rubber phase facilitate the propagation of cracks and lead to a pronounced decline of the mechanical properties of the blends [13] . In order to improve the properties of blends containing recycled rubbers, some authors devulcanize the rubber phase [3,9,[14][15][16][17][18] , or add functional fillers [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] . Besides, it is well known that dynamic vulcanization notoriously increases the adhesion and interaction between the phases.…”

Thermoplastic vulcanizate nanocomposites based on polyethylene/reclaimed rubber: A correlation between carbon nanotube dispersion state and electrical percolation threshold

“…As the observation in our previous work, Figure reconfirmed that LLDPE/RR blend is immiscible blend with RR phases well dispersed inside the continuous LLDPE matrix. Higher viscosity and lower content of the rubber phase led to RR phases formation dispersed in the LLDPE matrix, a well‐known competition between surface tension and shear stresses. Moreover, high RR viscosity compared to LLDPE can be associated with RR aggregation.…”

“…LLDPE grade LL0220AA with a density of 0.92 g cm −3 and a MFI of 2 g 10 min −1 and reclaimed rubber (RR) with a density of 1.18 g cm −3 and a Mooney viscosity of 50 [ML (1 + 4), 100 °C] were supplied by the Arak petrochemical Co. (Iran) and Yazd Isatis Co. (Iran), respectively. The characterization and the composition of the RR employed in the current study could be found in our previous study . Multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT; Nanocyl NC7000) with an average diameter of 9.5 nm, an average length of 1.5 μm, and a carbon purity 90% was bought from Nanocyl SA (Belgium).…”

Dynamically vulcanized acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymer/nitrile butadiene rubber blends compatibilized by chlorinated polyethylene

“…Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are rubbery materials that exhibit properties similar to those of conventional vulcanized rubbers but are processable at an elevated temperature; the thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are a special class of TPEs produced via dynamic vulcanization in the presence of a vulcanizing system . Dynamic vulcanization was first described by Gessler and then developed by Fisher, Coran and Patel, and Abdou‐Sabet and Michael .…”