Styrene butadiene-based blends containing waste rubber powder: Physico-mechanical effects of mechanochemical devulcanization and gamma irradiation

Waste rubber (WR) powder was introduced in a two-roll mill in the presence of various ratios of curatives to develop sheets of devulcanized waste rubber (DWR). The selected product was investigated by FTIR, TGA and SEM. In a roll mill and hot press, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) gum was differentially replaced by DWR feed ratios, and thereafter irradiated with gamma rays. The mechanical parameters of the developed blend were examined. Oil resistance and thermogravemetric behavior were discussed. Remarked improvement in the mechanical, thermal and physical parameters of SBR was generally determined by the incorporation of DWR and gamma irradiation.