Effect of epoxidized natural rubber on thermal properties,fatigue life,and natural weathering test of styrene butadiene rubber/recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (SBR/NBRr) blends

The utilization of waste rubber powder in polymer matrices provides an attractive strategy for polymer waste disposal. Addition of recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBRr) in rubber compounds gives economic (lowering the cost of rubber compounds) as well as processing advantages. In this study, the properties of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)/NBRr blends with and without epoxidized natural rubber (ENR‐50) as a compatibilizer were determined. The results such as thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), fatigue life, and natural weathering test of SBR/NBRr blends with and without ENR‐50 were carried out. Results showed that TG thermograms of SBR/NBRr blends with ENR‐50 show lower thermal stability compared blends without ENR‐50. The incorporation of ENR‐50 into SBR/NBRr blends has reduced char residue compared SBR/NBRr blends without ENR‐50. The incorporation of ENR‐50 in SBR/NBRr blends has increased the rigidity of the blends thus lowering the fatigue life. The increment in tensile properties retention of SBR/NBRr blends with ENR‐50 indicated the enhancement on weathering resistant. The surfaces of SBR/NBRr blends with ENR‐50 after 6 months exposure showed a minimal severity of crack compared with SBR/NBRr blends without ENR‐50. It revealed that the scale of cracks has reduced indicating well‐retaining interfacial adhesion between SBR and NBRr with the presence of ENR‐50 as a compatibilizer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011