Dynamic mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers from polypropylene–natural rubber blend

The dynamic mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers from polypropylene natural rubber blends have been evaluated with special reference to the effect of blend ratio and extent of dynamic crosslinking of the elastomer phase. The effects of HAF black and silica fillers have also been studied. It has been found that increasing the proportion of elastomer phase reduced the storage modulus and increased the loss tangent values of the blends. The effect of dynamic crosslinking was found to be more prominent in blends containing higher proportion of elastomer phase. The improvement in storage modulus and decrease in loss tangent values were quite remarkable with increase in extent of crosslinking in these blends. The 70:30 NR:PP blend was found to exist as a two-phase system, both the components forming continuous phases of the blend.