Properties of natural rubber latex-compatibilized natural rubber/recycled chloroprene rubber blends

The effect of natural rubber latex (NRL) on the properties of natural rubber/recycled chloroprene rubber (NR/rCR) blends was investigated. The properties of NR/rCR-NRL blends were compared with those of NR/rCR blends without the NRL. The addition of NRL showed an improvement in tensile strength, elongation at break, fatigue life, and swelling resistance with respect to those rubber blends without NRL. However, the gel content and glass transition of NR/rCR blends were not significantly affected by NRL. The scanning electron microscopic images showed better rCR dispersion in NR/rCR-NRL blends, indicating that the interfacial adhesion between NR and rCR blends was enhanced. A single tan δ is observed from the dynamic mechanical analysis supported that NRL can be used as compatibilizer in the NR-rich blend.