In Situ Zirconia: A Superior Reinforcing Filler for High-Performance Nitrile Rubber Composites.

ABSTRACT: Zirconia particles are generated into a nitrile rubber (NBR) matrix via a solution sol-gel method in a controlled manner. Formation of zirconia particles from their precursor (zirconium(IV) propoxide) occurs under optimized reaction conditions. As a result, the nanoparticles are embedded and well dispersed in the NBR matrix that results in a remarkable improvement in mechanical and thermal properties of the composite. Such reinforcement is not realized when the composites are prepared following the conventional technique of filler loading by physical mixing, although the filler content remains the same. Use of a surface active coupling agent TESPT (bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide) in the reactive sol-gel system is found to further boost the mechanical performance of the composite

SUBMITTER: Ambilkar SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7160828 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature