STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIP OF BLENDS OF ETHYLENE-CO-VINYL ACETATE AND EPOXIDIZED NATURAL-RUBBER

The properties of blends of ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) and epoxid ized natural rubber (ENR) have been studied in relation to their struc tures by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic me chanical analysis. FTIR spectra of the blends of EVA and ENR show weak dipole-dipole interactions. These blends are incompatible as determin ed from the dynamic mechanical analysis and further confirmed by scann ing electron microscopy studies. In order to understand the influence of interaction between the polymers, the properties of blends of ENR w ith other reactive polymers such as ethylene-methylacrylate (EMA) and ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer (EAA), have been compared. The higher values of tensile strength and modulus of ENR/EAA are due to the highe r level of interaction.