Development of a suitable nanostructured cure activator system for polychloroprene rubber nanocomposites with enhanced curing, mechanical and thermal properties

Abstract

Nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) are synthesized by sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and fieldemission scanning electron microscopy. The curing characteristics, mechanical, thermal and aging resistance properties of polychloroprene rubber (CR) composites in presence of both nanostructured and conventional cure activators in different combinations are determined. The CR composite containing 2 phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber) nano-ZnO along with 2 phr nano-MgO shows an excellent improvement in the curing characteristics as well as in the values of modulus and tensile strength in comparison to CR composite containing conventional cure activator system, i.e., 5 phr conventional ZnO along with 4 phr conventional MgO. Morphological analysis confirms the uniform distribution of nanosized cure activators within the CR matrix in comparison to conventional cure activators. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that rapid degradation region for CR composite starts at higher temperature in presence of nanostructured cure activator system in comparison to conventional cure activator system. This study reveals that only 2 phr nano-ZnO in combination with 2 phr nano-MgO can successfully replace conventional cure activator system containing 5 phr conventional ZnO along with 4 phr conventional MgO with the enhancement of cure, mechanical and thermal properties of CR composites.

Emerging Advances in Rubber Technology by the Suitable Application of Sol-Gel Science and Technology

“…Sol-gel-synthesized ZnO and MgO particles were also used to develop a suitable nanostructured cure activator system for CR composites with improved cure, mechanical, and thermal properties. 28 As shown in Figure 13b, a nanostructured cure activator system containing 2 phr nano ZnO along with 2 phr nano MgO had the potential to provide greater torque value than conventional cure activator system containing 5 phr conventional ZnO along with 4 phr conventional MgO in CR formulation. 28…”

“…During preparation of rubber composites, the quantity of externally added ZnO is expressed in phr. Continuing their research, Roy et al 27,28 reported the preparation of sol-gel-synthesized nano magnesium oxide (MgO)-based rubber composites by conventional two-roll mixing mill process. In those publications, MgO was synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method.…”

The Use of Copper Oxides as Cross-Linking Substances for Chloroprene Rubber and Study of the Vulcanizates Properties. Part II. The Effect of Filler Type on the Properties of CR Products

“…The choice of chloroprene rubber (CR) was chosen because of its unique features. CR is a multipurpose synthetic elastomer with a broad industrial application (including wire and cable jacketing, hose, tubes, covers, automotive gaskets, seals, cellular products, construction applications, asphalt modification) due to its high ozone resistance, extraordinary oil and fuel resistance, toughness, good adhesion to other materials, and high heat resistance [ 6 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Role of geopolymer as a cure activator in sulfur vulcanization of epoxidized natural rubber

“…It was also found that modulus and strength properties of ZnO activated sulfur cured polychloroprene rubber with 4% nano‐MgO appeared to have superior properties to the vulcanizate with conventional micro‐ZnO‐activated cure system . Furthermore, polychloroprene rubber (CR) with the mixture of 2 phr of nano‐ZnO and 2 phr of nano‐MgO showed an excellent improvement in curing characteristics ( i.e ., cure time, and cure rate index [CRI]), modulus, and tensile strength, when compared to CR vulcanizate with 5 phr of conventional ZnO and 4 phr of MgO . Moreover, it was found that CaO and MgO might be other appropriate replacements of ZnO in SBR compounds .…”