Formulation design and properties of high modulus natural rubber/cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber/trans-1,4-poly(butadiene-co-isoprene) rubber blends

The structure and properties of high modulus natural rubber (NR) / cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber (BR) blends reinforced with carbon black and modified with trans-1,4-poly(butadiene-co-isoprene) rubber (TBIR) and low Mooney viscosity trans-1,4-poly(butadiene-co-isoprene) rubber (LTBIR) were investigated. The results showed that both of the TBIR and LTBIR could significantly improve the compatibility between NR and BR. Compared with NR/BR vulcanizates, the mechanical properties and resilience of high modulus NR/BR vulcanizates modified with TBIR and LTBIR with reducing 4 phr (mass) carbon black were improved, wear volume reduced by 13%, compression heat generation reduced by 10%, rolling resistance reduced by 20%, first-grade flex fatigue life improved by about 1.6 times, and sixth-grade flex fatigue life improved by about 1.1 times