Effect of natural rubber/epoxidized natural rubber (90/10) on dielectric properties and crystallization of metallocene linear low density polyethylene

Abstract

The effects of different amounts of natural rubber/epoxidized natural rubber (90/10 NR/ENR-50) blended with metallocene linear low density polyethylene (mLLDPE) with HVA-2 compatibilizer on the permittivity, dielectric loss, breakdown and volume resistivity at frequency of 50 Hz were investigated. Increasing the voltage with a range 1-5 kV increased the permittivity of both virgin mLLDPE and its blends. The permittivity, dielectric loss and breakdown of mLLDPE continuously decreased with increasing rubber content, but the AC volume resistivity of mLLDPE continuously increased with the rubber content. The degree of crystallinity of the mLLDPE composites was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The lowest crystallinity and the maximum density of physical cross-links were observed in 10% rubber/mLLDPE blend. Increasing the proportion of rubber decreased the melting points of the blends. The FTIR showed that the epoxy groups and double bonds were absent from all the blends while the carbonyl group appeared in all cases.