Compatibilization of SBR/NBR blends using chemically modified styrene butadiene rubber - Part I: Effect of chlorine content of compatibilizer

The effect of dichlorocarbene modified styrene butadiene rubber (DCSBR) as a compatibilizer in blends of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and styrene bu tadiene rubber (SBR/NBR) has been studied. The cure characteristics, physic al propel-ties, crosslink density, FTIR studies and low temperature transit ions of the blends were determined as a function of chlorine content of DCS BR. Compatibilizing efficiency depended on the chlorine content of DCSBR an d composition of blend constituents. Effective compatibilization was achiev ed when chlorine content of compatibilizer was 25% and SBR content of blend was either 50% or lower FTIR studies, glass transition behavior measured b y DSC and DMA showed that an appreciable extent of molecular level miscibil ity, has been achieved in SBR/NBR blends by using DCSBR as a compatibilizer Improvement in mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear streng th, resilience, hardness and compression set were achieved both when DCSBR was added and chlorine content of DCSBR increased tip to 25%. The resistanc e of the vulcanizate towards air and oil aging improved with compatibilizat ion. The change in technological properties cot-related with crosslink dens ity of the blends assessed from swelling studies and stress-strain data.