Effect of NBR partitioning agent on the mechanical properties of PVC/NBR blends and investigation of phase morphology by atomic force microscopy

Thermo-mechanical properties of poly vinyl chloride/vulcanized nitrile butadiene rubber blends cured by gamma irradiation

“…This may be argued on the basis that NBR acts as an insulator via mass transport barrier against HCl evolution, leading to slower decomposition in PVC. These observations prove one of the commercially important and miscible polymer blends, PVC/NBR (Gheno et al, 2009).…”

“…It is known that higher contents of PVC assimilating into the NBR matrix lead to improvement in toughness whereas the elastomer phase remains as dispersed particles (Ahmed, 2015). Furthermore, it has been reported that the compounding of PVC in NBR rubber leads to increasing the modulus at 100% elongation, tensile strength, hardness and strain energy (Gheno et al, 2009). The variation in 100% modulus with the PVC feed ratio and radiation dose is shown in Fig.…”

Direct visualization of the nanoscopic three‐phase structure and stiffness of NBR/PVC blends by AFM nanomechanical mapping

“…The microstructure of polymer blends can be investigated by SEM or TEM after proper sample treatments such as etching or staining . Phase images obtained by tapping‐mode AFM (TM‐AFM) can reveal the phase structure in polymer blends . The microstructure of a blend system can also be characterized in an indirect way by SAXS experiments or NMR spectroscopy .…”

“…However, the information obtained is indirect and qualitative. PVC/NBR blends were studied by TM‐AFM phase imaging, which only revealed the PVC phase and the NBR phase in the blend . Despite decades of indirect evidence and speculation about the microstructure of NBR/PVC blends, there is very little direct evidence for its three‐phase structure and nanomechanical properties.…”

“…[9][10][11][12] Phase images obtained by tapping-mode AFM (TM-AFM) can reveal the phase structure in polymer blends. [11][12][13][14] The microstructure of a blend system can also be characterized in an indirect way by SAXS experiments 15,16 or NMR spectroscopy. 17,18 A direct visualization of the microstructure and nanomechanical properties of TPEs has been a fundamental focus for designing and developing advanced elastomer-based materials, which, however, has not been assessed.…”