Influence of Blend Proportions on Properties of ENR-25/TPU Simple Blends

Abstract:

Thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) based on blending of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and epoxidized natural rubber with 25 mol % epoxide (ENR-25) was prepared by simple blend technique. Influence of various blend proportions was investigated. It was found that an incorporation of rubber caused decreasing of mechanical properties in terms of tensile strength, elongation at break and hardness. This is attributed to incorporation of rubber phase may cause chain restriction of the soft segments in TPU and hence lower elongation at break and tensile strength. It was also found that the tension set value decreased with increasing proportion of natural rubber which indicates greater elasticity or tendency to recover to the original shape after prolonged deformation. Additionally, shear stress and shear viscosity of the blends increased with increasing rubber proportions due to higher viscosity of the ENR-25 component which leads to higher force to compress the polymer melt flowing through a capillary channel. Morphological properties of the simple blend with various blend proportions exhibited formation of co-continuous phase structure was observed where larger rubber formation are observed in the blend with higher content of ENR-25 phase.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 844)
• Pages: 93-96
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.844.93
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Skulrat Pichaiyut, Charoen Nakason, Ekwipoo Kalkornsurapranee, Norbert Vennemann, Claudia Kummerlöwe
• Keywords: Blend Ratio, Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR), Simple Blend, Thermoplastic Natural Rubber (TPNR), Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)

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