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The influence of soda lignin and thiolignin on the mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at rupture) as well as on the dielectric properties (conductivity (σ), permittivity (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), and dielectric relaxation time (τ)) of their composites with natural rubber (NR) was investigated. All measurements were carried out on NR, NR/soda lignin (20 phr), and NR/thiolignin (20, 30, and 40 phr) composites. The mechanical properties reveal that NR/thiolignin composite possesses the best thermal stability and 20 phr is the optimum thiolignin loading. The dielectric study was carried out over a frequency range from 100 Hz to 100 kHz at temperature range from 20 to 80°C. Dielectric data were fitted in the frequency domain using Havriliak‐Negami and Fröhlich functions in addition to the conductivity term. The different relaxation mechanisms in the system were also discussed according to these functions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006

Polyglycidylmethacrylate grafted butadiene rubber (PGMA‐g‐BR) was synthesized by a graft solution copolymerization technique. The PGMA content was determined through titration against HBr. The PGMA‐g‐BR was blended with styrene butadiene rubber/butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (SBR/NBR) blends with different blend ratios. The SBR/NBR (50/50) blend was selected to examine the compatibility of such blends. Compatibility was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and viscosity measurements. The scanning electron micrographs illustrate the change of morphology of the SBR/NBR rubber blend as a result of the incorporation of PGMA‐g‐BR onto that blend. The Tgs of SBR and NBR in the blend get closer upon incorporation of PGMA‐g‐BR 10 phr, which indicates improvement in blend homogeneity. The intrinsic viscosity (η) versus blend ratio graph shows a straight‐line relationship, indicating some degree of compatibility. Thermal stability of the compatibilized and uncompatibilized rubber blend vulcanizates was investigated by determination of the physicomechanical properties before and after accelerated thermal aging. Of all the vulcanizates with different blend ratios under investigation, the SBR/NBR (25/75) compatibilized blend possessed the best thermal stability. However, the SBR/NBR (75/25) compatibilized blend possessed the best swelling performance in brake fluid. The effect of various combinations of inorganic fillers on the physicomechanical properties of that blend, before and after accelerated thermal aging, was studied in the presence and absence of PGMA‐g‐BR. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1559–1567, 2006

Acrylonitrile-co-styrene-co-methylmethacrylate (AN-S-MMA) terpolymer was prepared by bulk and emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization techniques. The bulk and emulsion terpolymers were characterized by means of Fourierr transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermal gravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. The kinetics of the terpolymerization were studied. The terpolymers were then incorporated into butadiene—acrylonitrile rubber (NBR)/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) blends and into chloroprene rubber (CR)/EPDM blend. The terpolymers were then tested for potential as compatibilizers by using scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The terpolymers improved the compatibility of CR/EPDM and NBR/EPDM blends. The physicomechanical properties of CR/EPDM and NBR/EPDM blend vulcanizates revealed that the incorporation of terpolymers was advantageous, since they resulted in blend vulcanizates with higher 100% moduli and with more thermally stable mechanical properties than the individual rubbers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3143–3153, 2003