VOLUME 17

ISSUE 1-2
of Achievements in Materials July-August
and Manufacturing Engineering 2006

Modification of PVC compounds with

butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomers
M. Rojek, J. Stabik*
Division of Metal and Polymer Materials Processing, Institute of Engineering Materials and
Biomaterials, Silesian University of Technology, ul. Konarskiego 18a, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
* Corresponding author: E-mail address: jozef.stabik@polsl.pl
Received 15.03.2006; accepted in revised form 30.04.2006

Materials

Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to present the research programme on influence of acrylonitrile-butadiene
copolymers on properties of plasticized polyvinylchloride as window gaskets material.
Design/methodology/approach: Short literature review concerning application of modified PVC as gasket
material was presented. In experimental part two types of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers were used as
elastomeric plasticizers. Compounds with fifteen different levels of modifiers content (up to 25% by weight)
were prepared and tested. Additionally three commercial compounds were tested as reference formulations.
The following test were performed: Shore hardness, short-term and long-term elastic recovery, tensile strength,
elongation at break and migration of plasticizers from gasket material to unplasticized PVC.
Findings: Application of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers as PVC modifier enhanced many properties essential
for window gasket materials such as long-term and short term elastic recovery, tensile strength and elongation
at break. At the same time addition of these elastomers did not change migration of other plasticizers contained
in gasket material. Obtained results indicated that among tested compounds best properties as gasket material
exhibited plasticized PVC with 23% of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer Chemigum P83. Reference commercial
compounds exhibited worse performance properties than compounds with this acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer.
Practical implications: Research programme allowed to elaborate plasticized PVC compounds modified with
acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer that can be industrially applied for PVC window gaskets.
Originality/value: Obtained results are of scientific and practical value. Research programme allowed to
investigate the influence of elastomeric modifiers on plasticized PVC properties. Research results are also of
practical importance.
Keywords: Engineering polymers; Mechanical properties; Window sealing; PVC

frequently applied for gaskets. To achieve better sealing

1. Introduction
1. Introduction
Windows play important role as a barrier shielding buildings
from harmful influences. To assure good barrier properties
windows designers apply sophisticated window profiles and panes
and apply advanced materials [1,2]. But equally important are
gaskets which prevent penetration of cold or hot air, dust, water
and sounds. Widow gaskets are produced from different types of
high performance elastomers such as EPDM, SBS, SEBS and
silicones [3] These elastomers are expensive and new materials
are extensively searched. Plasticized PVC is more and more
properties PVC is modified with elastomers and special
plasticizers [4,5,6,7,8,9]. These modifiers cause decrease of glass
transition temperature, increase deformability, elasticity, abrasion
resistance, elastic recovery, resistance to oils, fuels and many
cleaning chemicals [6,10,11,12]. Among polymeric plasticizers
butadiene-acrylonitrile and butadiene-acrylonitrile-styrene
copolymers are applied. Also thermo-oxidative resistance of PVC
gaskets can be improved by some polymeric modifiers [13].
In the following paper we present results of research on
modification of plasticized PVC with butadiene-acrylonitrile
copolymers.

© Copyright by International OCSCO World Press. All rights reserved. 2006 Short paper 141
 Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Volume 17 Issue 1-2 July-August 2006

2. Experimental
2. 
Experimental result of partial crosslinking of this copolymer. According to BS
7412:1991 standard minimum elastic recovery of window gaskets
after 5 minutes of recovery is 60% and after 60 minutes of
recovery is 75%. All tested compounds fulfil these requirements.
2.1. Materials
2.1. Materials Compounds with acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers exhibited
higher elastic recovery than reference compounds. It should be
Plasticized PVC prepared by AIB S.j. (Poland), (assigned underlined that elastic recovery is one of most important
PVC-AIB), was used as matrix. Two elastomers were used as properties for window gaskets.
PVC modifiers: pre-crosslinked copolymer of butadiene and
acrylonitrile Chemigum P83 (Eliokem) and copolymer of 68

acrylonitrile and butadiene Nipol 1312 DL72 (Lehmann&Voss).

Modifiers were added to PVC up to 25% by weight [14]. Three
A1, A2
commercial compounds produced by TCT Polska Sp. z o.o. were
used as reference materials: Tefanyl VEEP 115 (A1), Marwylex 64
MXE 100 (A2), and Tefanyl VECP 116 (A3). Before testing
samples were conditioned 24 hours at 293K r3K (20r3qC).
A3

Hardness ShOA
60
2.2. Testing procedures
2.2. Testing procedures

Shore hardness , tensile properties, short-term and long-term

elastic recovery and plasticizer migration from gasket to 56 PVC+Chemigum
unplasticized PVC were measured.
PVC+Nipol
Shore hardness was measured according to PN-EN ISO
868:2005 standard using Zwick 7206.H04 tester. Six
measurements were done for every compound.
Tensile test was performed according to PN-EN ISO 52

527:1998 using Zwick 112025 tensile machine. Tensile velocity

was 500 mm/min. 10 samples were tested for each compound.
Elastic recovery after compression was measured according to 0 5 10 15 20 25
BS 7412:1991. Short-term test was performed at temperature Weight fracture, %

296K±2K (23qC±2qC). Samples were deformed during 24hours,

elastic recovery was measured 5 minutes and 60 minutes after the Fig. 1. Dependences of Shore A hardness on weight fracture of
end of deformation. The long-term test was performed at modifiers in PVC
temperature 328K±2K (55qC±2qC). Samples were deformed 336 100
hours, elastic recovery was measured 60 minutes after the end of
deformation. Ten test pieces were applied for each measurement.
Migration test was performed according to BS 7412:1991 at
348K±2K (75qC±2qC), during 24 hours upon 5N compression 90

loading. Six measurements were done for each compound. A2

Elastic recovery (24h/60min), %

A3
A1

3. Results andand
theirtheir
analysis
80
3. Results analysis
Results are presented in graphic form which enables easier
their analysis. Results for reference compounds are presented as 70

horizontal lines assigned A1, A2 and A3.

Fig 1. shows influence of acrylonitrile- butadiene modifiers
addition on Shore qA hardness. Both copolymers caused hardness PVC+Chemigum
60
decrease. This result is typical for all types of plasticizers. The PVC+Nipol
influence of Nipol 1312 DL72 on hardness was stronger than
Chemigum P83.
Influence of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers on elastic 50
recovery after 24 hours of deformation show Fig 2 (after 60 0 5 10 15 20 25
minutes of recovery). Weight fracture, %
Addition of modifiers enhanced elastic recovery of PVC
compounds. It can be explained by polymeric and elastomeric Fig. 2. Dependence of elastic recovery after 24 hours of
nature of applied plasticizers [15]. Increase of elastic recovery deformation and 60 minutes of recovery on weight fracture of
was more pronounced after Chemigum P83 incorporation. It is the acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers in PVC

142 Short paper M. Rojek, J. Stabik

 Materials

50 gaskets than short-term elastic recovery. According to BS

7412:1991 standard minimum long-term elastic recovery of
window gaskets between PVC profile and panes is 25% and of
gaskets between two PVC profiles is 40%. Compounds with 25%
of Chemigum P83 exhibited 46% of elastic recovery and with the
40
same content of Nipol 1312 DL72 exhibited 36% of long-term
Elastic recovery (336h/60min), %

elastic recovery. Compounds with Chemigum P83 content higher

A2 than 12% and with Nipol 1312 DL72 content higher than 21%
A3 obtained higher long-term elastic recovery than reference
compounds.
30
Results of tensile test are presented in Fig. 4 and 5.
A1
Chemigum P83 influenced weakly tensile strength. Addition of
more than 10% by weight of Nipol 1312 DL72 decreased this
property. Compounds modified with both types of copolymers
20
shown essential increase of elongation at break. Formulation with
PVC+Chemigum
Chemigum P83 had much better deformation properties than
PVC+Nipol reference formulations.

500

10
PVC+Chemigum
0 5 10 15 20 25
Weight fracture, % PVC+Nipol

Fig. 3. Dependence of elastic recovery after 336 hours of

400
deformation and 60 minutes of recovery on weight fracture of
acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers in PVC
Elongation at break, %

14

PVC+Chemigum
PVC+Nipol 300

12
Tensile strength, MPa

A1
A2
200
A3
10

A1
0 5 10 15 20 25
A2 Weight fracture, %
8
Fig. 5. Relation between elongation at break and weight fracture
of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers in PVC
A3

Relation between migration of plasticizers and nitrile

6
0 5 10
Weight fracture, %
Fig. 4. Relation between tensile strength and weight fracture of
acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers in PVC
Results of recovery test for 336 hours of deformation in
temperature 328K (55qC) and after 60 minutes of recovery are
presented in Fig. 3. This property is even more important for
butadiene copolymer content is shown in Fig. 6.
15 20 25 According to BS 7412:1991 maximum amount of plasticizers
migrating from gasket to hard PVC is 5mg. All researched
formulations fulfil this requirement. Reference formulation A1
exhibited higher migration than tested compounds.
Comparing compounds modified by two acrylonitrile-
butadiene copolymers it can be seen that almost all properties
essential for window gaskets (elastic recovery, tensile strength
and elongation at break) were higher for compounds with
Chemigum P83. Plasticizers migration was on the same level.

Modification of PVC compounds with butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomers 143

 Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering Volume 17 Issue 1-2 July-August 2006

References
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PVC+Chemigum References
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4. Conclusions
4. Conclusions
Application of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers as PVC
modifier improved many properties essential for window gaskets
such as short-term and long-term elastic recovery after
compression, tensile strength elongation at break. At the same time
elastomers did not change migration of other plasticizers contained
in gasket material.
Obtained results indicate that among tested compounds best
properties as gasket material exhibited plasticized PVC with 23%
by weight of acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer Chemigum P83.
Performance properties of reference compounds Marwylex
MXE 100, Tefanyl VEEP 115 and Tefanyl VECP 116 exhibited
worse performance properties than compounds with Chemigum
P83 addition.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Research was supported by P.P.P. AIB Sp.j. Knurów, Poland.
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