Plastic blends

The crystalliza tion resistance of vulcaniza tes can be measured by following hardness or compression set at low temperature over a period of time. The stress in a compression set test accelerates crystallization. Often the curve of compression set with time has an S shape, exhibiting a period of nucleation followed by rapid crystallization (Fig. 3). The mercaptan modified homopolymer, Du Pont Type W, is the fastest crystallizing, a sulfur modified homopolymer, GN, somewhat slower, and a sulfur modified low 2,3-dichlorobutadiene copolymer, GRT, and a mercaptan modified high dichlorobutadiene copolymer, WRT, are the slowest. The test is often mn near the temperature of maximum crystallization rate of —12° C (99). Crystallization is accelerated by polyester plasticizers and delayed with hydrocarbon oil plasticizers. Blending with hydrocarbon diene mbbers may retard crystallization and improve low temperature britdeness (100). 

Nitrile rubbers are sometimes used in conjunction with plastics. Blends with PVC provide an early example of polyblends. (In fact this word has been used by one company as a trade description for such blends for over 25 years.)... 

Several partially cross-linked butyl rubbers are commercially available. The more tightly cross-linked grades are designed for butyl tapes. On the other hand, various depolymerized butyl rubbers and butyl/plasticizers blends are also available. 

Appendix B General Properties and Data on Elastomers and Plastics 175 Table B.IO True Stress at Break of Selected Melt-Mixed Rubber-Plastic Blends ... 

Another area of recent interest is covulcanization in block copolymers, thermoplastic rubbers, and elasto-plastic blends by developing an interpenetrating network (IPN). A classical example for IPN formation is in polyurethane elastomer blended acrylic copolymers [7]. 

B. Preparation of Elastomer-Plastic Blend by Melt Mixing Without Vuicanization... 

Elastomer-plastic blends without vulcanization were prepared either in a two roll mill or Banbury mixer. Depending on the nature of plastic and rubber the mixing temperature was changed. Usually the plastic was fed into the two roll mill or an internal mixer after preheating the mixer to a temperature above the melting temperature of the plastic phase. The plastic phase was then added and the required melt viscosity was attained by applying a mechanical shear. The rubber phase was then added and the mixture was then melt mixed for an additional 1 to 3 min when other rubber additives, such as filler, activator, and lubricants or softeners, were added. Mixing was then carried out with controlled shear rate... 

C. Preparation of Elastomer-Plastic Blends by Static Vulcanization... 

B. Properties of Conventionally Vulcanized Elastomer-Plastic Blends... 

Thermoplastic elastomers are materials that have the properties of vulcanized rubbers but can be processed by techniques associated with thermoplastics. The commercial importance of TPEs is due to their superior processing properties and economic advantages over conventional rubbers and plastics. TPEs from rubber-plastic blends became important because they combine the superior processability of thermoplastics and the... 

N. R. Choudhuary, P. P. De, and A. K. Bhowmick, Thermoplastic Elastomers from Rubber-Plastic Blends, Ellis Horwood, England, Chap. 3, p. 79 (1990). 

Blend of (1) and (2) type categories mostly include the modification of engineering thermoplastics with another thermoplastic or rubber. PS-EPDM blends using a low-molecular weight compound (catalyst) Lewis acid have been developed [126]. Plastic-plastic blends, alloys of industrial importance, thermoplastic elastomers made by dynamic vulcanization, and rubber-rubber blends are produced by this method. 

Electron and optical microscopes are being used to see blend homogeneity. Elastomer-plastic blends are somewhat easier to identify than elastomer-elastomer blends because normal staining techniques, e.g., osmium tet-raoxide, can be used in the case of plastic-elastomer blends. Normally, there are two methods that are followed for examining the blend surface by electron microscopy. 

Many of the new plastics, blends, and material systems require special, enhanced processing features or techniques to be successfully injection molded. The associated materials evolution has resulted in new plastics or grades, many of which are more viscoelastic. That is, they exhibit greater melt elasticity. The advanced molding technology has started to address the coupling of viscoelastic material responses with the process parameters. This requires an understanding of plastics as viscoelastic fluids, rather than as purely viscous liquids, as is commonly held... 

TPEs prepared from rubber-plastic blends usually show poor high-temperature properties. This problem could be solved by using high-melting plastics like polyamides and polyesters. But, often they impart processing problems to the blends. Jha and Bhowmick [49] and Jha et al. [50] have reported the development and properties of novel heat and oil-resistant TPEs from reactive blends of nylon-6 and acrylate rubber (ACM). The properties of various thermoplastic compositions are shown in Table 5.4. In this kind of blend, the plastic phase forms the continuous phase, whereas... 

Physical Properties of the 60-40 Rubber-Plastic Blends Containing Ground Rubber Tire and Maleated-CRT... 

Rader C.P. and Ahdou-Sahet S., Thermoplastic Elastomer from Rubber-Plastic Blends (De S.K. and Bhowmick A.K., eds.), Ellis Horwood, London, 1990. 

Bhowmick A.K., Chiba T., and Inoue T., Reactive processing of rubber-plastic blend Role of a chemical compatibilizer, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 50, 2055, 1993. 

Recent Developments in Rubber-Rubber and Rubber-Plastics Blends... 

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