Thermoplastic elastomers based on waste rubber and expanded polystyrene: Role of devulcanization and ionizing radiation

Abstract

Waste rubber (WR) powder as a vulcanized one was introduced into a two-roll mill in the presence of various ratios of curatives to develop sheets of devulcanized waste rubber (DWR). Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) were prepared by blending either WR or the obtained DWR with the waste of expanded polystyrene (EPS) at a fixed ratio of 70 rubber/30 EPS in the absence or presence of gamma irradiation at 100 kGy. Maleic anhydride (MA) 1 wt% with respect to rubber was used as coupling agent. The mechanical parameters of the blends: tensile properties, rheology, hardness (Shore D), and abrasion resistance were studied.