Curatives, interphase distribution

At ambient and processing temperatures, elastomers are viscous fluids with persistent transport phenomenon. In immiscible blends, these lead to change in the size and shape of the elastomer phases and migration of the fillers, plasticizers, and curatives from one phase to another. These changes are accelerated by processing and plasticization but retarded by the ultimate vulcanization. Retention of the favorable properties of a metastable blend, which is often attained only at a select interphase morphology and filler/plasticizer distribution, thus requires careful control of both the processing and the vulcanization procedures. 

An important aspect defining the mechanical behaviour of NR based polar synthetic rubber blend vulcanizates is the mechanical response of the individual components and the interphase involved, influenced by the curative (and filler) distribution. The synergetic action of the blend phases escalates the ability of... 

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