Fracture behavior at low strain rate of dynamically and statically vulcanized polypropylene/styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer blends

In this study, the fracture behavior of vulcanized thermoplastic/elastomer (PP/SBS) blends by means of the essential work of fracture (EWF) approach was investigated. Special reference was made to the influence of the blend ratio and the vulcanization method (dynamic and static). Tensile tests showed that the addition of elastomer particles to PP reduces the stiffness in the case of dynamically vulcanized blends. Also, the addition of SBS to PP affected both w(e) and w(p); w(e) increased with rubber content, whereas w(p) seemed to decrease, this effect being more significant for the dynamically cured systems. Hence, EWF revealed that the dynamic vulcanization method can impair fracture resistance of PP/SBS blends. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.