The Effects on Tensile and Morphology of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Blended with Recycled Nitrile Gloves (EPDM/NBRr)

Abstract

Blending of two or more polymer together can reduce the cost and better processing advantages of product. Waste rubber powders blending with polymeric materials provide an improvement to the rubber quality. In this work, the effects on tensile and morphology of ethylene propylene diene monomer blended with recycled nitrile gloves (EPDM/NBRr) were studied. Four different compositions of ethylene diene monomer (EPDM) and recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) with two different size of NBRr (S1: 250-500μm and S2: 3-10cm) were used. The compositions of EPDM/NBRr prepared were at 95/5, 15/85, 25/75 and 35/65 respectively. The properties of tensile and resilience of EPDM/NBRr blends were determined. Results indicated that the tensile strength and elongation at break (Eb) of EPDM/NBRr blends decrease as increase in NBRr for both S1 and S2. However, the tensile modulus (M100) shows an increment with increase NBRr. Results of resilience decreases and scanning electron microscopy study indicates that when more than 35 phr of NBRr content were used, NBRr exhibited a weak EPDM/NBRr matrix interaction, thus decreasing the mechanical properties of EPDM/NBRr blends. For overall results, 15 phr ratio of NBRr in EPDM/NBRr (S1) blend showed an optimum result respectively.