Incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles in PVC/ENR blends

This study was initiated to introduce titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as filler into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) blends by melt blending technique. Incorporation of TiO2 as filler is believed to enhance the physical and mechanical properties of PVC/ENR blends. The PVC/ENR blends incorporation with TiO2 was then being exposed to 0–150 kGy of electron beam irradiation as to impart the cross-linking between polymer chain and filler, before it was characterized. Based on the result, it was found that addition of 6 phr of TiO2 and electron beam irradiation effects caused an increase in the tensile strength (Ts) of the PVC/ENR blends. With addition of 6 phr TiO2 nanoparticles, tensile strength of irradiated PVC/ENR was found optimum at 50 kGy before the Ts value dropped with higher exposure to irradiation dose rate. The morphology of PVC/ENR blends with addition of TiO2 nanoparticles provides evidence for the good distribution of TiO2 in the blend matrix with diameter range of 15–60 ηm and the melt blending technique is an efficient technique to prepare PVC/ENR/TiO2 nanocomposites.