Natural Rubber Blended with Polystyrene Nanoparticles Prepared by Differential Microemulsion Polymerization

Abstract

Blends of natural rubber (NR) and polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles at 3—9 phr by latex compounding were investigated for their tensile properties, dynamic mechanical behaviors, and flammability. The nanolatex of PS was synthesized via differential microemulsion polymerization. The properties of NR were improved as a result of the incorporation of PS nanoparticles at 3 phr for tensile properties except the % elongation at break, and up to 9 phr for flammability. The results from dynamic mechanical analyzer showed that the elastic properties of NR near the glass transition temperature increased when the amount of PS nanoparticles was over 3 phr.