Thermostability and surface morphology of nano- and micro-filled NBR/CSM and CR/CSM rubber blends

Abstract

Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), polychloroprene rubber (CR), chlorosulphonated polyethylene rubber (CSM) and their blends were cross-linked with sulphur, ethylene-thiourea, magnesium oxide or their combination. The effect of nano- and micro- particle sized of 35 pphr SiO2 on the thermostability and surface morphology of all the crosslinked systems was investigated. Identification of the structure of nano- and micro- particle sized SiO2 filled NBR/CSM and CR/CSM crosslinked systems was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) extension. The thermal stability of the nano- and micro- particle sized SiO2 filled NBR/CSM and CR/CSM crosslinked systems were carried out by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the samples was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphology of the fracture surface of the crosslinked systems was carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show when filled with nano-particle sized of SiO2 NBR/CSM and CR/CSM polymer matrix have a strong peak from SiO–C at 1079 cm-1. This suggests the an interaction between the SiO2, which should lead to an increased thermal stability, higher values of Tg, better dispersion the nano-SiO2 and more polish, without cracks than micro-filled NBR/CSM and CR/CSM crosslinked systems.

Keywords

• IR spectral analysis
• thermal stability
• glass transition temperature
• surface morphology
• nano- and micro- particle size of SiO2 filled NBR/CSM and CR/CSM crosslinked systems