Spectroscopy of elastomer blends and composites

The physical and chemical properties of elastomers could be enhanced by blending it with polymers or other materials. Elastomer blends or composites therefore displayed desirable mechanical and thermal properties than pure elastomer. They are also economical and possess better processing behavior. Owing to its attractive features, elastomer blend/composites have been extensively used in several technological and commercial fields. They have been used to develop commercial products such as seals, adhesives, gaskets, fire-proofing materials, conveyor belts, footwear, etc. The medical application of elastomer blend is also reported. Identifying the chemical interaction in elastomers is essential and helps tune its physical properties. Here, we discuss some of the commonly used spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, Raman, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance to understand the morphology, miscibility, and chemical interaction in elastomeric blends/composites.