THERMAL-ANALYSIS OF BLENDS OF POLY(ETHYLENE COACRYLIC ACID) (PEA) ANDEPOXIDIZED NATURAL-RUBBER (ENR)

The decomposition behavior of blends of poly(ethylene co-acrylic acid) (PEA) and epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) have been studied by thermo gravimetric (TG) and (first) derivative thermogravimetric analysis. Th e thermograms of ENR show a clear two-stage degradation, whereas that of PEA exhibits three-stage degradation. Surprisingly, in the blends c ontaining 70 and 50% of ENR, multistage degradation is observed, where as blends containing 30, 20 and 10% ENR exhibit two-stage decompositio n with a T-1max (first maximum decomposition temperature) at 430 degre es C. This higher T-1max in the latter blends indicates the existence of a single phase, owing to strong chemical interactions during melt p rocessing. Activation energy at 10% degradation and half life at 200 d egrees C of the blends have been reported.