Optimal Parameter Design by Taguchi Method for Mechanical Properties of NBR/PVC Nanocomposites

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/organoclay (Cloisite 30B) nanocomposites have been prepared via direct melt mixing in an internal mixer. The application of Taguchi method for reducing cost and improving properties in NBR/PVC nanocomposites is reported. Processing parameters such as temperature, rotor speed and mixing time have been verified in relation to the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. The relative magnitude of each specific factor, interactions between all possible combinations of two factors and the performance estimation at any arbitary condition are also determinded. The experimental data are compared with the estimated data obtained by Taguchi method to examine the accurancy of the predicted values. The structures of nanocomposites have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and small amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry. X-Ray diffraction results show that the interlayer spacing is significantly influenced by processing conditions. The study of linear viscoelastic properties shows that storage modulus (G ) and complex viscosity, |ç*|, are very sensitive to the microstructure of the nanocomposite. Dynamical mechanical analysis of NBR/PVC nanocomposite samples has been investigated as well. The results confirm that the Taguchi method is a useful tool for estimating the mechanical properties of NBR/PVC nanocomposites.