Effect of Surface Modified Zinc Oxide as Cure Activator on the Properties of Rubber Compounds Based on NR/SBR

Effect of Surface Modified Zinc Oxide as Cure Activator on the  Properties of Rubber Compounds Based on NR/SBR
Saeed Taghvaei-Ganjali,^{1,2 *} Mercedeh Malekzadeh,¹ Ali Abbasian,³ Morteza Khosravi^1
1Department of chemistry, I. Azad University, North Tehran Branch
Daftari Alley, Dr. Shariati Ave., Tehran, Iran, Postal code: 1913674711
² IRAN Rubber Industries Engineering and Research Institute
No. 62, Bagherkhan St., Sattarkhan Ave., Tehran, Iran, Postal Code: 1441714894
³Department of Polymer, I. Azad University, Science and Research Branch
Hesarak, Poonak, Ashrafi Esfahani Blvd., Tehran, Iran, Postal Code: 1477893855
ABSTRACT
   Zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) were surface modified by poly- ethylene glycol (PEG) and poly propylene glycol (PPG). Modification of particles were controlled by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer, Emmett, Teller (BET) specific surface area measurement, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). PEG and PPG were shown better modifications for ZnO and nZnO respectively. The interactions between surface modifiers and particles are hydrogen bonding. Modified particles were applied as activator in vulcanization of natural rubber/styrene butadiene rubber (NR/SBR) blends. Dispersion of modified particles in rubber matrices were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and shown good results. Blends properties were improved by using modified particles due to better hydrophobicity and simultaneously particles dispersion. PEG modified particles were presented faster cure system. PEG modified particles were shown better mechanical properties for the blends containing ZnO and PPG modified particles for those containing nZnO.
KEYWORDS
Zinc oxide, Nanoparticles, Modification, Vulcanization, NR/SBR blends

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* Corresponding author, Tel: +982166433507, fax:+982166635779, e-mail: taghvaei@hotmail.com,