Preparation and characterization of blends containing natural and some synthetic rubbers with synthesized aromatic polyester

This work deals with the synthesis of aromatic polyester (AP) from polyarylate [Bisphenol A (BPA)/dimethyl terephalate (DMT)/ethylene glycol (EG)] and maleic anhydride (MA) in presence of dibutyl tin oxide (DBTO) as a catalyst. Blends were prepared from candidated AP (10-30 phr) with different types of rubber [natural rubber (NR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)]. The obtained blends were subjected to physicomechanical measurements to evaluate their properties as efficient blends for economic industrial applications. In case of AP blended with rubber, better properties were obtained than that of rubber vulcanizates. The fatigue life values decreases by increasing the AP contents for all types of the tested blends. The equilibrium swelling (%) for the prepared blends exhibits different behavior in solvents like toluene and motor oil. The addition of N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylene diamine (IPPD), as antioxidant, affects the properties of all the prepared products. These properties were in consequent with the data of the initial shear modulus, which is calculated from the Mooney-Rivlin equation and the percentage of the equilibrium swelling. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to study the morphological structure; the SEM results show the changes in surface of the rubber before and after being blended with AP. The investigated blends are considered a new trend in giving products with variable physicomechanical characteristics.