The influence of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer functionalized with mercapto groups (EVALSH) on rheological, morphological and dynamic mechanical properties of nitrilic rubber (NBR)/ ethylene - vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) blends has been investigated. Selective extraction experiments of NBR phase and scanning electron micrography suggest that co-continuous morphologies were formed in a range of blend compositions from 30 to 60 wt% of EVA. The addition of EVALSH did not affect the co-continuous range but shifted the percolation threshold of NBR-richer blends towards lower amount of EVA. The co-continuous range was also evidenced by dynamic mechanical analysis. Rheological data also revealed that the presence of EVALSH increased the viscosity of the blends containing higher amounts of NBR.
NBR; EVA; compatibilization; co-continuity; DMTA; rheology
