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Natural rubber/poly(ethylene‐ co ‐vinyl acetate)‐blend‐based nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Sharif Jamaliah,
Yunus Wan Md Zin Wan,
Dahlan Khairulzaman Hj,
Ahmad Mansor Hj
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.23121
Subject(s) - organoclay , materials science , nanocomposite , ultimate tensile strength , natural rubber , composite material , compression molding , dynamic mechanical analysis , vinyl acetate , polymer blend , ethylene vinyl acetate , scanning electron microscope , transmission electron microscopy , polymer , polymer chemistry , copolymer , mold , nanotechnology
Natural rubber (NR)/poly(ethylene‐ co ‐vinyl acetate) (EVA) blend–clay nanocomposites were prepared and characterized. The blend nanocomposites were prepared through the melt mixing of NR/EVA in a ratio of 40/60 with various amounts of organoclay with an internal mixer followed by compression molding. X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed that the nanocomposites formed were intercalated. The formation of the intercalated nanocomposites was also indicated by transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy, used to study the fractured surface morphology, showed that the distribution of the organoclay in the polymer matrix was homogeneous. The tensile modulus of the nanocomposites increased with an increase in the organoclay content. However, an increase in the organoclay content up to 5 phr did not affect the tensile strength, but the organoclay reduced this property when it was increased further. This study also indicated that a low silicate content dispersed in the blend matrix was capable of increasing the storage modulus of the material. The addition of the organoclay also increased the decomposition temperature of the NR/EVA blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 353–362, 2006