Dynamically vulcanized ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer/nitrile butadiene rubber blends reinforced by zinc dimethacrylate

Abstract

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on ethylene-methacrylic acid (EMA) copolymer/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) blends were prepared by dynamic vulcanization where the NBR phase was reinforced by zinc dimethacrylate (ZDMA). The effect of ZDMA dosage on the mechanical properties, Mullins effect, and morphology of the TPVs was investigated systematically. Experimental results indicated that the mechanical properties of EMA/NBR TPVs were enhanced remarkably with the incorporation of ZDMA. Morphology study showed that the NBR particles with diameters of about 1–5 μm were dispersed evenly in the etched surface of EMA/NBR/ZDMA TPV. The Mullins effect could be observed in the stress–strain curves of EMA/NBR TPV and EMA/NBR/ZDMA TPV during the uniaxial loading–unloading cycles. Compared with those of EMA/NBR TPV, EMA/NBR/ZDMA TPV had the higher stress, residual deformation, and internal friction loss.