Novel Interpenetrating Polymer Networks Based on Natural Rubber/Poly(vinyl alcohol)

Fully interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) based on natural rubber (NR) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by using glutaraldehyde as the common cross-linking agent. The mechanical performance of this system has been studied in detail. Stress-stain behavior, tensile strength, elongation at break and young's modulus was determined. Effects of weight fraction on the physical properties of NR/PVA IPN's were also studied along with the thermal degradation behavior using thermogravimetric analysis. A remarkable improvement was observed in the mechanical strength and the thermal stability of the blend by the formation of IPN. The activation energy of degradation was analyzed using the Horowitz-Metzger equation. The solvent resistance properties of these samples were investigated by the equilibrium swelling method using benzene as a solvent. The impact of weight fraction of PVA on the solvent transport of the system was also analyzed. A reduction in swelling was exhibited with the addition of PVA to natural rubber by the formation of IPN. The water absorbability of the blend decreases by the addition of glutaraldehyde.