Effect of Blend Ratio and Testing Rate on the Adhesion Properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR 25)/Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) Blend Adhesive

The effect of rubber blend ratio and testing rate on the adhesion properties of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR 25)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) blend adhesive were studied using 40 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr) of coumarone-indene resin as the tackifying resin. Toluene and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film were used as the solvent and substrate, respectively. A SHEEN hand coater was used to coat the adhesive on the PET substrate at 30, 60, 90, and 120 mu m coating thickness. Viscosity was determined by a Brookfield viscometer whereas loop tack, peel strength, and shear strength were measured by a Llyod Adhesion Tester at various testing rates from 10 to 60 cm/min. Results show that viscosity increases gradually with % ENR 25. However, loop tack, peel strength, and shear strength of adhesives indicate a maximum value at 40% ENR 25, after which the adhesion properties decreases with further increase in % ENR 25. This observation is attributed to the varying degree of wettability which culminates at an optimum value of 40% ENR 25 blend ratio. In all cases, the adhesion properties increase with increasing coating thickness and rate of testing.