Study of Mechanical, Thermomechanical and Morphological Behavior of the Polystyrene/Recycled Rubber (SBR) Blend

The combination of polymer is an alternative to obtain materials with properties that, in general, are not found in a single material. The goal of this work was to produce polymer blend with polystyrene (PS) as a matrix and recycled rubber compound (SBR) as a minor phase, in order to obtain superior properties to PS. The combination of polystyrene/ composed recycled rubber was prepared in a double screw corrotational extruder and, subsequently, the extruded pellets were molded by injection. These were characterized by mechanical tests, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), heat deflection temperature (HDT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was observed that there was no significant loss in HDT and on tensile strength. The DMTA tests showed the presence of two peaks transition, a reference to the PS Tg and another regarding the Tg of PB. The morphology showed a reduction in the quantity of voids and in the size of the particles when the mixture was compatibilized with 5% SBS. The PS/SBR blends are an alternative to the reuse of footwear wastes, as well as to add value to a material that would be discarded.

polymer blends; rubber wastes; compatibilizer; properties