LIQUID NATURAL-RUBBER AS A COMPATIBILIZER IN THE BLENDING OF NATURAL-RUBBER WITH POLYPROPYLENE

Thermoplastic natural rubber(TPNR) is prepared by blending natural rubber(NR)with polypropylene (PP) at various compositions. The hardness of TPNR is determined by the concentration of PP while the elasticity depends on the NR content. Addition of liquid natural rubber (LNR) to the blend causes the physical properties of TPNR to improve significantly. The LNR helps to increase the interaction between the PP and NR phases and thereby improves the physical properties of the TPNR. The ability of LNR to interact with the NR and PP phases is due to the presence of active groups on the polyisoprene chains of LNR. The homogeneity of the NR-PP phases increases with the LNR content.