Green thermoplastic elastomer based on polycaprolactone and epoxidized natural rubber blend was prepared by melt mixing process. Peroxide cured NR (Natural rubber, SVR-3L) and PCL (Polycaprolactone, Tone-787) has been prepared to form Eco-blends.
NR and PCL were crosslinked with DCP (dicumyl peroxide) to form NR/PCL/DCP blends was premixed using an internal mixer.
The results from SEM (scanning electron microscope) experiments revealed that NR/PCL blend were crosslinked with DCP. The results from DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) experiments revealed that the Tm (Melting temperature) was reduced with increasing the DCP concentration. Tensile strength increasing with decreased the content of PCL and increasing the DCP.
The important quantities to be determined for describing shape memory properties of a material are the strain recovery rate (Rr) and strain fixity rate (Rf). A description of a thermomechanical test with loading at 60 oC. Such NR/PCL/DCP blend networks possessing crystalline domains together with appreciable degree of crosslinking showed good shape retention and shape recovery, and the recovery temperatures were well matched with the crystalline melting temperature of each sample. The shape recovery ratio of the thermoplastic polyurethane SMP is usually in the range of 90–95 % within 20 shape recovery cycles. In this study, the shape recovery ratio of the NR-PCL blend SMP is 99 % within 30 shape recovery cycles.
