Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation on Microstructure and RheologicalProperties of PVC/ENR blends Reinforced by Nanoclay and TiO2 Nanofiller

This thesis investigates the mechanical and rheological properties of PVC/ENR50 nanocomposite with nano TiO2 and Cloisite 30B. The compounds of PVC/ENR50 with 70/30 and 50/50 percent composition with 1.5 w% TiO2 beside 1.5 w% clay nanoparticles were prepared by melt blending. The composites were irradiated by 25, 50 and 75 kGy dose of electron beam irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were used for studying the nanocomposites structure and nanoparticles dispersion. Also, rheological melt spectroscopy (RMS), tensile and gel fraction tests were used for investigating rheological and mechanical properties of nanocomposites and crosslinking density, respectively. Addition of 1.5 w% TiO2 besides 1.5 w% Cloisite 30B increased the complex viscosity, storage modulus and tensile modulus and decreased the elongation at break of PVC/ENR50. The results showed improvement in mechanical and rheological properties of all compounds by 25-75 kGy electron beam irradiation. The 70/30 PVC/ENR50 nanocmposite with 1.5 w% TiO2 and 1.5 w% Cloisite 30B irradiated by 75 kGy had the highest gel fraction, mechanical and rheological properties.