Highly toughened poly(vinylidene fluoride)/nitrile butadiene rubber blends prepared via peroxide-induced dynamic vulcanization

Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) toughened poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blends were prepared via dynamic vulcanization in the presence of dicumyl peroxide (DCP). A super toughened PVDF/NBR blend was achieved with 28 wt% NBR, showing Izod impact strength of 77.5 kJ/m2, which was 6-7 times higher than the pure PVDF. The effects of the NBR incorporation on morphology and properties of the blends were investigated. Good interfacial interaction was found between the PVDF continuous phase and crosslinked spherical NBR particles with diameter of 1-3 μm. The complex viscosity and storage modulus of the blends increased significantly with increasing NBR content. The incorporation of the NBR component decreased the thermal stability of the PVDF/NBR blends, while the mass of residual char of the blends was much higher than that of pure PVDF and NBR.