Elastomers based on NR/BR/SBR ternary rubber blend: Morphological, mechanical and thermal properties

Abstract

The elastomeric materials based on NR/BR/SBR ternary rubber blend were investigated. The polyisoprene (NR), butadiene (BR) and styrene butadiene (SBR) rubbers were used as network precursors and carbon black (CB) as an active filler (60 phr) for elastomeric materials preparation. For sample preparation, the mass ratio of NR to BR was constant, 1:1, but the SBR content was varied from 0 to 80 phr. The morphological, mechanical and thermal properties of prepared elastomeric materials were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical tensile measurements and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Mechanical properties were assessed before and after thermooxidative aging during 168 h at 100 °C. The values of tensile strength, elongation at break, and hardness decrease up to 40 phr of SBR content and after that are increasing, but abrasion resistance of ternary rubber blends increases. The thermal decomposition temperature obviously shifted to a higher temperature for the sample with 40 phr of SBR.