Mechanical and thermal properties of carbon black reinforced natural rubber/polyvinyl alcohol fully‐interpenetrating polymer networks

Nano composite based on fully interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of natural rubber and polyvinyl alcohol was prepared by reinforcing carbon black (CB) into the IPN matrix. As a common crosslinking agent for both the constituent polymers, glutaraldehyde was used to prepare the fully IPN. Effects of weight fraction of CB on the physical properties of the composites were investigated. A remarkable improvement was observed in the mechanical strength and the thermal stability of the blend by the incorporation of CB. Maximum tensile strength was observed for the nano composite with 0.8% of CB. Further addition of CB resulted in decrease of tensile properties due to the formation of agglomerates, as evident from scanning electron microscope images. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 24:E21–E29, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers