Micromechanical Deformation and Recovery Processes of Nylon-6/Rubber Thermoplastic Vulcanizates As Studied by Atomic Force Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), as prepared by dynamic vulcanization, are blends in which cross-linked rubber particles are finely dispersed in a thermoplastic matrix. The reported nylon-6/EPDM TPVs show significant strain recovery behavior, even though the matrix consists of semicrystalline nylon-6, which deforms plastically via shear yielding. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy experiments revealed an inhomogeneous plastic deformation of the matrix phase. During straining, the plastic deformation is initiated in those zones where the nylon matrix between the rubber particles is the thinnest. Even at high strains, the thick ligaments of the nylon matrix remain almost undeformed and act as adhesion points holding the rubber particles together. When the external force is removed, the elastic force of the stretched, dispersed rubber phase pulls back the plastically deformed nylon parts by either buckling or bending. This is considered to be the key mechanism for the elastic behavior of the investigated TPVs.

The use of atomic force microscopy as an important technique to analyze the dispersion of nanometric fillers and morphology in nanocomposites and polymer blends based on elastomers

“…Rams et al [15] proposed a method for the quantification of the relative amount of crystallinity based on the roughness of the PE films, whereas Oderkerk et al [36] analyzed TPV blends EPDM/Nylon-6 under stress by AFM as a way to collect information about the deformation and recovery behavior of the rubber and the matrix phase in TPVs during uniaxial stretching and subsequent stress relaxation. Summarizing, all these works show the versatility of the technique.…”

Microwave‐absorbing performance and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber thermoplastic elastomers filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes and silicon carbide

“…This was attributed to the deformation behavior of TPE. 22 The effect of the premixing filler with rubber was smaller than that of the premixing filler with plastic on the yield of plastic.…”

Synergistic effects of rare earth oxides on intumescent flame retardancy of Nylon 1010/ethylene-vinyl-acetate rubber thermoplastic elastomers

“…TPEs based on nylon with various rubbers have been studied extensively for many years [7,8]. In our previous research, ethylene-vinyl-acetate rubber (EVM) was blended with PA1010 to improve the toughness of PA [9,10].…”