SPECIAL EFFECT OF ULTRA-FINE RUBBER PARTICLES ON PLASTIC TOUGHENING

According to the present theories of plastic toughening, it is impossible to enhance the toughness, stiffness and/or heat resistance of plastics simultaneously by using rubber. A series of novel nano-rubber particles (UFPR) were introduced, which were prepared through irradiating common rubber lattices and spray drying them. Epoxies toughened with UFPR showed a much better toughening effect than those with CTBN, and the heat resistance of epoxy was unexpectedly elevated. For polypropylene toughening, UFPR can improve the toughness, stiffness and heat resistance of PP simultaneously. These special toughening effects overcome the deficiencies in rubber toughening technology and are worth further investigating.