Shape memory properties of dynamically vulcanized poly(lactic acid)/nitrile butadiene rubber (PLA/NBR) thermoplastic vulcanizates: The effect of ACN content in NBR

Abstract

Morphology structure and interfacial interaction are crucial factors for shape memory thermoplastic vulcanizates. In this study, shape memory thermoplastic vulcanizates based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) were prepared through dynamic vulcanization. The influence of acrylonitrile (ACN) content on the morphology, compatibility, shape memory property, and mechanical property was investigated. A co-continuous structure was observed. The interfacial compatibilization between PLA and NBR phases occurred, resulting in a significantly improved interface adhesion and interfacial interaction, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. With such a novel structure, the PLA/NBR TPVs owned an excellent shape memory property and further improved with increasing ACN content of NBR, which could be explained that the cross-linked continuous NBR phase provided a stronger recovery driving force. In the meantime, tensile strength and elongation at break of TPVs increased with increase in ACN content. It is concluded that the preparation of dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic vulcanizate with co-continuous structure and strong interfacial adhesion is beneficial to obtain outstanding shape memory effect.

Thermo‐responsive shape memory behavior of poly(styrene‐b‐isoprene‐b‐styrene)/ethylene‐1‐octene copolymer thermoplastic elastomer blends

“…10 Semi-crystalline polymer/elastomer blends are an effective and economical method for production of SMPs. [11][12][13][14] While the semi-crystalline polymer acts as a switch between permanent and temporary shape, the elastomeric polymer provides entropic elasticity to return the material to its permanent shape. Unlike conventional elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are multi-phase polymers in which hard and soft phases are dispersed within each other.…”

High shape‐memory effect of hindered phenol/nitrile–butadiene rubber composites by forming hydrogen bonding

“…Many attempts were made to adjust the temperature range of T g of SMPs. There are some studies on rubber‐based SMPs . Most of them were prepared by blending plastic and rubber and tailoring the ratio of rubber/plastic to tailor T g and gain excellent SMPs.…”

Preparation and properties of novel fluorosilicone thermoplastic vulcanizate with cross‐linking–controlled core‐shell structure

“…6,7 The effective way to prepare TPVs is through dynamical vulcanization, [8][9][10] which is the process of cross-linking an elastomer during its melt mixing with a molten plastic under dynamic condition. 11,12 A significant number of TPVs are produced through this method, such as polylactide (PLA)/natural rubber (NR), 13,14 PLA/epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), [15][16][17] PLA/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), 18 poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/acrylic rubber (ACM), 19 ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)/polypropylene (PP), [20][21][22][23] PVDF/ENR, 24 polyamide 12 (PA12)/hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), 25 and ethylene octene copolymer (EOC)/poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) rubber. 26 The properties of TPVs strongly depended on the final morphology, which were affected by many factors, such as the cross-linking degree of the rubber phase, composition, viscosity and elasticity of individual components, preparation method, and processing condition.…”

“…The effective way to prepare TPVs is through dynamical vulcanization, which is the process of cross‐linking an elastomer during its melt mixing with a molten plastic under dynamic condition . A significant number of TPVs are produced through this method, such as polylactide (PLA)/natural rubber (NR), PLA/epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), PLA/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/acrylic rubber (ACM), ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM)/polypropylene (PP), PVDF/ENR, polyamide 12 (PA12)/hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), and ethylene octene copolymer (EOC)/poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) rubber …”