IJETST- Vol.

||03||Issue||05||Pages 601-607||May||ISSN 2348-9480 2016

International Journal of Emerging Trends in Science and Technology

Study On Mechanical And Thermal Properties Of Nano Clay

Reinforced EVA/SBR Rubber Blend Composites
Asok Kumar. K (1)
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Dr. Pauls Engineering College,
Villupuram,
Email: naasubu@yahoo.com
Subramanian. N (2)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Pauls Engineering College,
Villupuram,
Email: asok301192@gmail.com

AbstractNowadays synthetic rubbers can be blended together to achieve better performance using two roll
mixing mill. The work aims to develop Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) / Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) blend
withreinforced by Nano clay composites by the conventional method using a two roll mill.The aim of
polymer blending is to develop products with unique properties that cannot be attained from individual
components.Several thermal and mechanical properties of the composites were further determined
according to the requirements.The curing behavior of the mixes was studied with an Oscillating disc
Rheometer (ODR). The study of rheometric characteristic is done in accordance with ASTM method D-
2084.Optimum cure time increases which are require more time for cross linking in EVA/SBR rubber blends
up to 8 phr and then decreases.Optimum cure time is the period in the curing curve where 90%increase in
torque.The results showed that scorch time and cure rate index of the vulcanizes decrease with increasing
Nano clay.
Index terms: oscillating disc rheometer , scorch time , optimum cure time , vulcanizes

I. INTRODUCTION phase, which was continuousin the

unvulcanizedblend, changedprogressively into the
SBR marketed under the trade name Syanaprene
dispersed phase as sulphur concentration was
(SBR-1502) was obtained from Korea Kumho
increased.
Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (Ulsan, Korea). SBR is
EVA used was EVA-1802 obtained from
derived from two monomers, styrene(23.5%)
National Organic and Chemical Industries Ltd.
and butadiene.[1] The mixture of these two
Mumbai, India. It is
monomers is polymerized by two processes: from
the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl
solution (S-SBR) or as an emulsion (E-SBR). E-
acetate(VA).[5]It is produced by continuous bulk
SBR is used in our work. Styrene butadiene
polymerization process using stirred autoclave
rubber (SBR) is a general purpose synthetic
reactors. EVA1802 is recommended for injection,
rubber having high filler-loading, good flex
extrusion, compression and blow moulding
resistance, crack-initiation resistance, and
process.[3] This material exhibits good flexibility,
abrasion resistance. However, like other
good transparency, and good impact strength. For
unsaturated rubbers, its ageing resistance is poor,
example copolymers with low VA contents are
due to the unsaturation in the butadiene
called as thermoplastics whereas high VA
component. [4] In order to minimize the oxidative
contents are called as oil resistant elastomers.
degradation of SBR during service at high at
The blend of EVA and SBR is used in application
temperature, it is advisable to blend it with a
of footwear industry and hence able to produce a
saturated or low unsaturated polymer.[3] The SBR
shoe sole material with economical benefits.[2]
Asok Kumar. K www.ijetst.in Page 601
 IJETST- Vol.||03||Issue||05||Pages 601-607||May||ISSN 2348-9480
EVA copolymer may be considered as a good
partner for this purpose because of its excellent
ageing resistance, weather resistance, and
mechanical properties. In addition, it can provide
easier melt processability to the corresponding
blends.[7]The curing behaviour, morphology,
mechanical properties, swellings behaviour and
ageing characteristics of SBR/EVA blends have
been reported by our group earlier.
These blends were found to be immiscible
with low interfacial adhesion between the
components. The goal of the present work is to
analyze the effects of blend ratio, crosslinking
systems on the mechanical behaviour of
SBR/EVA blends.Nanoclay used in the rubber for
improving curing characteristics, modulus,
elongation at break, chemical resistance, flame
retardancy, heat deflection temperature (HDT)
and tensile strength. Montmorillonite is the most
common nanoclay used in materials applications.
Montmorillonite consists of ~ 1 nm thick
aluminosilicate layers surface-substituted with
metal cations and stacked in ~ 10 m-sized
multilayer stacks.[6] Depending on surface
modification of the clay layers, montmorillonite
can bedispersed in a polymer matrix to form
polymer-clay nanocomposite.[4]It is also used as
a soil additive to hold soil water in drought-prone
soils, used in the construction of earthen dams
and levees, and to prevent the leakage of fluids.[1]
Organically-modified nanoclays (organoclays) are
an attractive class of hybrid organic-inorganic
nanomaterials with potential uses in polymer
nanocomposites, as rheological modifiers, gas
absorbents and drug delivery carriers.
II. EXPERIMENTAL
1.Materials
Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) marketed under
the trade name Syanaprene (SBR-1502) was
obtained from Korea . EVA-1802 obtained from
National Organic and Chemical Industries Ltd.
Mumbai, India. The basic characteristics of SBR
and EVA are given in Table 1. The compatibilizer
used wasMercapto modified EVALASH .The
Asok Kumar. K www.ijetst.in
2016
rubber chemicals used such as sulphur, dicumyl
peroxide, zinc oxide, stearic acid, and mercapto
benzothiazyl disulphide (MBTS) were of
commercial grade.
2. Blend preparation and mixing
The blends of SBR and EVA were prepared, on a
laboratory type (150 mm300 mm) two roll
mixing mill having a friction ratio of 1:1.4, as per
ASTM D-15-627. Initially SBR and EVA were
separately masticated. The masticated rubbers
were then blended together and compounded. The
temperature of the rollers of the mill was kept at
70 C. ASTM D 3182-89 in the following order:
activator, filler, accelerator and curing agents.
Before the addition of accelerator and sulphur the
batch was thoroughly cooled.[6] After the
completion of mixing, homogenization of the
compound was carried out by passing the rolled
stock endwise 31 six times at a mill opening of 0.8
mm. The mill is opened to give a minimum stock
thickness of 6mm and the stock was passed
through the rolls four times folding it back on
itself each time.
Fig1.Two-roll mill
Table I Details of materials
1. Styrene butadiene rubber (sbr-1502)
Properties Typical Value
Styrene Content 23.5 %
Tensile Strength at 300 kg/cm2
Break
Elongation at Break 470 %
300% Modulus 185 kg/cm2
Page 602
 IJETST- Vol.||03||Issue||05||Pages 601-607||May||ISSN 2348-9480 2016
Table - II Appearance Powder
2. Ethyl vinyl acetate
Bulk 200 - 500 kg/m3
Properties Typical Value Density

Vinyl Acetate Content 18 %

Theblendsof EVA/SBRwith
Density (23 0C) 0.936 gm/cm3 differentnanoclayratios. It is necessary to study
the rheological behavior of the uncured rubber
Tensile Strength at 20 MPa blends. The curing behavior of the mixes was
Break studied with an oscillating disc Rheometer.The
study of rheometric characteristic is in accordance
Elongation at Break 750 % with ASTM method D-2084.Rheometric
characteristic such as minimum torque, maximum
Table -III torque, scorch time (ts2) and optimum cure time
3. Montmorillonite nanoclay (tc90) of the compounds at 1500C. The composites
of EVA/SBR/NC composites and describing
Properties Details various materials of testings are classified and
explained details are shown in bellow tables
Type Montmorillonite nanoclay IV&V.
(surface modified)

Table - IV
Composition of eva/sbr/nc composites

INGREDIEN AMOUNT (PHR)

T E60+N0 E60+N2 E60+N4 E60+N6 E60+N8 E60+N10

SBR 60 60 60 60 60 60
EVA 40 40 40 40 40 40
NANOCLAY 0 2 4 6 8 10
Stearic Oxide 4 4 4 4 4 4
Zinc Oxide 2 2 2 2 2 2
DOP Oil 2 2 2 2 2 2
Sulfur 5 5 5 5 5 5
MBDS 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
TMTD 1 1 1 1 1 1

3. Formulation Compounds filled with Ethyl venyl acetate and

Nanoclay were made Cure activators (Stearic
Asok Kumar. K www.ijetst.in Page 603
 IJETST- Vol.||03||Issue||05||Pages 601-607||May||ISSN 2348-9480 2016
acid and ZnO) and curatives The compound are obtained is dried at room
(Monobenzothiazole Disulfide (MBDS), temperature for 24 hours and then molded into
Tetramethyl Thiuram disulfide (TMTD). The sheets and button specimens using electrically
samples were named as N0, N2,N4,N60,N8 and
heated hydraulic press of 15 MPa capacity at
N10. The number followed the letter N
indicates the amount of Nanoclay in the samples. 1500C for 5 min.Curing is a term in polymer
The formulation results are tested and verified for chemistry and process engineering that refers to
various Nano clay rubber materials are shown in the toughening or hardening of a polymer material
above table-v. by cross-linking of polymer chains, brought about
4. Curing : by electron beams, heat or chemical additives.

Table v
Formulation of composites
CONSTITUENT COMPOSITION PROCESSING
IN PHR TIME IN MIN
EVA 60 10
SBR 40 10
Activator Stearic acid 2 5
Zinc oxide 4 5

Reinforcing fillers (Nanoclay) (0,2,4,6,8,10) 10

Processing oil Dioctyl phthalate (DOP oil) 5 3
Cross linking agent ( sulphur) 2 2
Primary Accelerator MonobenzothiazoleDisulfide (MBTS) 1.5 2
Tetramethyl Thiuram Disulfide (TMTD) 1 2

5. Mixing of ingredients:
1. Zinc oxide - Activator
2. Stearic oxide - Co-activator
3. Dioctyl phthalate (DOP oil) - Processing oil
4. Sulfur - Cross linking agent
5. Dibenzothiazole disulphide-Primary
Accelerator
6. Tetramethyl Thiuram Disulfide (TMTD)
secondary
Accelerator
7. Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
8. Ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA)
9. Nanoclay (NC)
Fig 2. Hydraulic press

Asok Kumar. K www.ijetst.in Page 604

 IJETST- Vol.||03||Issue||05||Pages 601-607||May||ISSN 2348-9480 2016
time and cure rate index (CRI) decrease with
nanoclay content increase in EVA/SBR rubber
blend.
The results showed that scorch time and cure rate
index of the vulcanizates decrease with increasing
nanoclay content up to 8 phr and then they
increase when nanoclay content is further
increased. As nanoclay increases optimum cure
time increases which is require more time for
cross linking in EVA/SBR rubber blends up to 8
phr and then decreases.

Fig 3. Cured samples

III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The blends of EVA/SBR with different nanoclay
ratios. It is necessary to study the rheological
behavior of the uncured rubber blends. The curing
behavior of the mixes was studied with a
oscillating disc Rheometer. The study of
rheometric characteristic is in accordance with
ASTM method D-2084. Rheometric characteristic
such as minimum torque, maximum torque,
scorch time(ts2) and
optimum cure time (tc90) of the compounds at Cure characterization
1500C. The difference between the minimum
torque and maximum torque is known as delta
torque. Minimum torque is directly related to the
viscosity of the compounds at the test
temperature. The minimum torque can be taken as
a measure of the viscosity of the masticated
rubber.The maximum torque has the same
behavior as to the minimum EVA/SBR rubber
blend. The maximum and minimum torque (Mh
and Ml) and delta torque (M) increases with the
Nanoclay increase in the EVA/SBR rubber blend.
As delta torque increase continuously with
Nanoclay content increase. Delta torque is an
indirect indication of the crosslink density of the
rubber compounds. Therefore delta torque
increases crosslink density increases.The scorch
time is the period in the curve in which the
minimum torque increases.Optimum cure time is
the period in the curing curve where 90%increase
in torque. Optimum cure time increase but scorch

Asok Kumar. K www.ijetst.in Page 605

 IJETST- Vol.||03||Issue||05||Pages 601-607||May||ISSN 2348-9480 2016

IV. CONCLUSION
The SBR/EVA blends had carried out as a
function of blend composition, crosslinking
systems and compatibilization over a wide range
of temperature and frequency.The maximum,
minimum and delta torque increases with the
nanoclay increase in the EVA/SBR rubber blend
as shown above graph.Optimum cure
timeincreases which are require more time for
cross linking in EVA/SBR rubber blends up to 8
phr and then decreaseswith increase in nanoclay
loading.The results showed that scorch time and
cure rate index of the vulcanizes decrease with
increasing Nano clay.

REFERENCES
[1] Olivares-Maldonado, Olivares-Maldonado,
Yeraldin; Ramrez-Vargas, Eduardo; Effect of
organoclay structure characteristics on properties
of ternary PP-EP/EVA/nanoclay blend systems,
Polymer Composites, Wiley Blackwell (John
Wiley & Sons), Year:2014, Volume:35, Issue:11,
P:2241-2250.

[2] Mohammad Ghanbari, Saied Nouri Khorasani,

Mohammad Mehdi Talakesh and Alireza
Farzadfar, Investigating the effect of
nanoclay/carbon black on sulfur curing system of
SBR/BR and NR/BR blends, Journal of
Elastomers and Plastics, sage publication, 2013.
CRI =
[3] S. Praveen, P.K. Chattopadhyay, P. Albert,
V.G. Dalvi, B.C. Chakraborty, S. Chattopadhyay,
Synergistic effect of carbon black and nanoclay
fillers in styrene butadiene rubber matrix:
Development of dual structure, Composites: Part
A, Elsevier, Year:2009, Volume:40, P:309-316.

Asok Kumar. K www.ijetst.in Page 606

 IJETST- Vol.||03||Issue||05||Pages 601-607||May||ISSN 2348-9480 2016

[4] C. K. Radhakrishnan & Prajitha Kumari, A.

Sujith, G. Unnikrishnan, Dynamic mechanical
properties of styrene butadiene rubber and poly
(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) blends, Journal of
polymer research, Springer, Year:2008,
Volume:15, P:161-171.

[5] Biju John, K. T. Varughese Zachariah

Oommen, Petra Potschke, Sabu Thomas
Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of High-Density
Polyethylene/Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer
Blends: The Effects of the Blend Ratio, Reactive
Compatibilization, and Dynamic Vulcanization
Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Wiley Inter
Science, Year: 2003, Vol. 87, P:20832099.

[6] M. L. Barrueso-Martinez, T. P. Ferrandiz-

Gomez, C. M. Cepeda-Jimenez, J. Sepulcre-
Guilabert, and J.M.Martin-Martinez, Influence of
the vinyl acetate content and the tackifier nature
on the rheological, thermal, and adhesion
properties of EVA adhesives, J. Adhes. Sci.
Technol., 15(2):243263, 2001.

[7] H. Acharya, T. Kuila, S.K. Srivastava, Anil K.

Bhowmick, Effect of Layered Silicate on
EPDM/EVA Blend Nanocomposite: Dynamic
Mechanical, Thermal, and Swelling Properties,
Society of Plastics Engineers, Wiley InterScience,
2008.

Asok Kumar. K www.ijetst.in Page 607