Thermoplastic chitosan/natural rubber blends (Cs/NR) were prepared from natural rubber latex and chitosan by solution casting technique. The blends were characterized by mechanical analysis (stress-strain) and the mechanical properties were found to vary with chitosan/natural rubber ratios. Experimental values were compared with different theoretical models. Effect of thermal aging on mechanical properties was also investigated. Dicumyl peroxide was used as the crosslinking agent. The effect of crosslinking on mechanical properties of Cs/NR has also been studied. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.