Phase topology of a NR/BR elastomer blend with active filler

Abstract

The relations between the structure and mechanical properties of a polymer blend of natural (NR) and polybutadiene (BR) rubber (i.e. a NR/BR blend with the weight ratio of the components 70/30) filled with active carbon black were analysed. The properties of the individual phases in the blend were resolved by modeling the stress-strain relationship according to the Bauer procedure for high extensions. The obtained results indicated that BR is the dispersed phase, having a higher modulus, which was also confirmed by the much better fit of the experimental data to the series type of phase coupling according to the Takanayagy theory.

Keywords

• Polymer blends
• Rubber
• Phase topology
• Reinforcing fillers
• Rheological properties