Enhanced Physical and Mechanical Properties of Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber Composites with N-Cetylpyridinium Bromide-Carbon Black.

The physical and mechanical properties of nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) composites with N-cetylpyridinium bromide-carbon black (CPB-CB) were investigated. Addition of 5 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of CPB-CB into NBR improved the tensile strength by 124%, vulcanization rate by 41%, shore hardness by 15%, and decreased the volumetric wear by 7% compared to those of the base rubber-CB composite.

Systematic Investigation of the Degradation Properties of Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber/Polyamide Elastomer/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites in Thermo-Oxidative and Hot Oil Environments.

The physical blending method was used in order to prepare nitrile-butadiene rubber/polyamide elastomer/single-walled carbon nanotube (NBR/PAE/SWCNT) composites with better thermal-oxidative aging resistance. The interactions between SWCNTs and NBR/PAE were characterized using the Moving Die Rheometer 2000 (MDR 2000), rheological behavior tests, the equilibrium swelling method, and mechanical property tests. The 100% constant tensile stress and hardness of NBR/PAE/SWCNT composites increased from 2.59 MPa to 4.14 MPa and from 62 Shore A to 69 Shore A, respectively, and the elongation decreased from 421% to 355% with increasing SWCNT content. NBR/PAE/SWCNT composites had improved thermal-oxidative aging resistance due to better interactions between SWCNTs and NBR/PAE. During the aging process, the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with the increase in aging time compared to the unaged samples, and the constant tensile stress gradually increased. There was a more significant difference in the degradation of mechanical properties when aged in a variety of oils. The 100% constant tensile stress of NBR/PAE/SWCNT composites aged in IRM 903 gradually increased with aging time while it gradually decreased in biodiesel. The swelling index gradually increased with increasing SWCNT content. Interestingly, the swelling index of the composites in cyclohexanone decreased with the increase in SWCNT content. The reasons leading to different swelling behaviors when immersed in different kinds of liquids were investigated using the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) method, which provides an excellent guide for the application of some oil-resistant products.

Influence of Partially Carboxylated Powdered Lignocellulose from Oat Straw on Technological and Strength Properties of Water-Swelling Rubber.

The work is aimed at the development of an energy-saving technique involving the partial carboxylation of powdered lignocellulose products from the straw of annual agricultural plants and the use of the obtained products in rubber compositions as a water-swelling filler. Lignocellulose powder from oat straw (composition: α-cellulose-77.0%, lignin-3.8%, resins and fats-1.8%) was used for carboxylation without preliminary separation into components. Microwave radiation was used to activate the carboxylation process. This reduced the reaction time by 2-3 times. The synthesized products were analyzed by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Industrial product sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) was used as a swelling filler for comparison. The swelling fillers were fractionated by the sieve method; particles with the size of 0-1 mm were used for filling rubber compounds. The amount of swelling filler was 150 parts per 100 parts of rubber (phr). Due to the high filling of rubber compounds, plasticizer Oxal T-92 was added to the composition of a number of samples to facilitate the processing and uniform distribution of ingredients. The rubber composition was prepared in two stages. In the first stage, ingredients without swelling filler were mixed with rubber on a laboratory two-roll mill to create a base rubber compound (BRC). In the second stage, the BRC was mixed with the swelling filler in a closed laboratory plasti-corder rubber mixer, the Brabender Plasti-Corder® Lab-Station. Vulcanization was carried out at 160 °C. For the obtained samples, the physical-mechanical and sorption properties were determined. It has been shown that the carboxylated powdered lignocellulose from oat straw increases the strength properties of rubber in comparison with Na-CMC. It has been shown that when the carboxylated powdered lignocellulose from oat straw is introduced into the rubber composition, the degree of rubber swelling in aqueous solutions of various mineralizations increases by 50 and 100% in comparison with a noncarboxylated lignocellulose.

Balancing Acute and Chronic Occupational Risks: The Use of Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Undergloves by Firefighters to Reduce Exposure to Toxic Contaminants.

Firefighters are exposed via multi-route exposure to a multitude of chemicals (PAHs, VOCs, flame retardants, dioxins, etc.) that may cause acute and long-term health effects. The dermal absorption of contaminants is a major contributor to the overall exposure and can be reduced by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. As leather firefighters' gloves cannot be decontaminated regularly by wet cleaning, many Belgian firefighters wear supplementary undergloves made of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) to protect against the accumulation of toxicants. However, the safety of this practice has been questioned. In this commentary, the current practice and risks are outlined for the first time, assessed by an interdisciplinary working group of the Belgian Superior Health Council. As NBR sticks to the skin more at high temperatures, the contact time on removal will be prolonged, posing an additional risk for deeper burns. However, based on the physicochemical properties of NBR and the existing experience of firefighters and burn centers, it is estimated that such incidents occur relatively rarely in practice. On the other hand, the risk of repeated exposure to contaminated gloves if no undergloves are worn is unacceptable. Despite the slightly increased risk for deeper burns, it is concluded that wearing disposable NBR gloves under regular firefighters' gloves is an appropriate and effective preventive measure against toxic contamination. The nitrile butadiene rubber must always be fully covered to avoid any contact with the heat.

Mechanical Properties, Radiation Resistance Performances, and Mechanism Insights of Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Irradiated with High-Dose Gamma Rays.

The radiation effect of materials is very important and directly related to the safety and reliability of nuclear reactors. Polymer materials, one of the indispensable materials in nuclear power equipment, must withstand the ordeal of high-energy ionizing rays. In this work, through screening different γ-ray dose irradiation conditions, we systematically and comprehensively study the changes in the structure and properties of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) before and after γ-ray static irradiation at a high dose rate, and master the rule and mechanism of the γ-ray static irradiation effect of these polymer materials. The mapping relationship between the macroscopic properties, microstructure, and irradiation dose of NBR is accurately characterized. With an increase in total irradiation dose, the C=C double bond reaction occurs, and the C≡N bond, C=C, and C=O participate in the hyper crosslinking reaction. The glass transition temperature (Tg) increases with the cumulative irradiation amount. With the increased total irradiation amount, the degree of rubber cross-linking increases, causing an increased crystallinity and decomposition temperature. A growing amount of gamma irradiation causes the mechanical properties of the rubber to degrade simultaneously, increasing the shore hardness while decreasing the tensile strength and ultimate elongation at break. When the cumulative amount reaches 1 MGy, the ultimate elongation at break decreases significantly. A cumulative dose of radiation resistance of 4 MGy can be achieved by the samples. This work can provide theoretical and experimental support for the long-term stability of nitrile butadiene rubber and its derivatives in nuclear radiation fields and space radiation conditions.

Evaluation of Polymer-Coated Carbon Nanotube Flexible Microelectrodes for Biomedical Applications.

The demand for electrically insulated microwires and microfibers in biomedical applications is rapidly increasing. Polymer protective coatings with high electrical resistivity, good chemical resistance, and a long shelf-life are critical to ensure continuous device operation during chronic applications. As soft and flexible electrodes can minimize mechanical mismatch between tissues and electronics, designs based on flexible conductive microfibers, such as carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers, and soft polymer insulation have been proposed. In this study, a continuous dip-coating approach was adopted to insulate meters-long CNT fibers with hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), a soft and rubbery insulating polymer. Using this method, 4.8 m long CNT fibers with diameters of 25-66 µm were continuously coated with HNBR without defects or interruptions. The coated CNT fibers were found to be uniform, pinhole free, and biocompatible. Furthermore, the HNBR coating had better high-temperature tolerance than conventional insulating materials. Microelectrodes prepared using the HNBR-coated CNT fibers exhibited stable electrochemical properties, with a specific impedance of 27.0 ± 9.4 MΩ µm2 at 1.0 kHz and a cathodal charge storage capacity of 487.6 ± 49.8 mC cm-2. Thus, the developed electrodes express characteristics that made them suitable for use in implantable medical devices for chronic in vivo applications.

Molecular-Level Insight of CP52/NBR Damping Composites through a Combination of Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Experimental Method.

To enhance the damping properties of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), the elastomer used was blended with chlorinated paraffin 52 (CP52) to prepare NBR/CP52 composites. The results showed that CP52 could significantly enhance the damping properties of NBR and shift the glass transition temperature (Tg) to lower temperatures. Molecular dynamics models of the CP52/NBR system were established, and the damping properties of the CP52-reinforced NBR were investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Through the combination of MD simulations and the experimental results, the essential mechanism of the enhanced damping properties of the NBR was methodically expatiated and was ascribed to the Cl-CP-H····NC-NBR (type I) and CP-Cl····H-NBR-CN (type II) analogous hydrogen bonds formed between NBR and CP52. The higher the CP52 content, the higher the analogous hydrogen bond concentration, and the better the damping properties of the CP52/NBR composites. The experimental results were very consistent with the MD simulation results, meaning that the combination method can provide a new means to optimize the design of damping materials and broaden the application range of small polar molecules in the damping modification of polar rubber materials.

Morphology and Microwave-Absorbing Performances of Rubber Blends with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Molybdenum Disulfide.

This study details microwave-absorbing materials made of natural rubber/nitrile butadiene rubber (NR/NBR) blends with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). The mechanical blending method and the influences of fabrication on the morphology and microwave-absorbing performance of resulting compounds were logically investigated. It was found that interfacial differences between the fillers and matrix promote the formation of MWCNTs and MoS2 networks in NR/NBR blends, thus improving microwave-absorbing performance. Compared with direct compounding, masterbatch-based two-step blending is more conducive to forming interpenetrating networks of MWCNTs/MoS2, endowing the resulting composite with better microwave attenuation capacity. Composites with MWCNTs in NR and MoS2 in NBR demonstrate the best microwave-absorbing performance, with a minimum reflection loss of -44.54 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 3.60 GHz. Exploring the relationship between morphology and electromagnetic loss behavior denotes that such improvement results from the selective distribution of dual fillers, inducing networking and multi-component-derived interfacial polarization enhancement.

Degradation Behaviors and Mechanism of Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Caused by Insulating Medium C5F10O.

C5F10O is a promising insulating medium in the manufacturing of environmentally friendly gas-insulated switchgears (GISs). The fact that it is not known whether it is compatible with sealing materials used in GISs limits its application. In this paper, the deterioration behaviors and mechanism of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) after prolonged exposure to C5F10O are studied. The influence of C5F10O/N2 mixture on the deterioration process of NBR is analyzed through a thermal accelerated ageing experiment. The interaction mechanism between C5F10O and NBR is considered based on microscopic detection and density functional theory. Subsequently, the effect of this interaction on the elasticity of NBR is calculated through molecular dynamics simulations. According to the results, the polymer chain of NBR can slowly react with C5F10O, leading to deterioration of its surface elasticity and loss of inside additives, mainly ZnO and CaCO3. This consequently reduces the compression modulus of NBR. The interaction is related to CF3 radicals formed by the primary decomposition of C5F10O. The molecular structure of NBR will be changed in the molecular dynamics simulations due to the addition reaction with CF3 on NBR's backbone or branched chains, resulting in changes in Lame constants and a decrease in elastic parameters.

Synergistic Effect of Partial Replacement of Carbon Black by Palm Kernel Shell Biochar in Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Composites.

With the rapid development of the palm oil-related industry, this has resulted in the high production of palm oil waste. The increasing amount of palm oil waste has become an alarming issue in which researchers have carried out studies that this palm oil waste has the potential to be used as a biomass source. Carbon black (CB) is the most preferred reinforcing filler in the rubber industry but it has a disadvantage where CB is carcinogenic and a petroleum-based product. Hence CB is less sustainable. Palm kernel shell (PKS) derived from palm oil waste can be turned into palm kernel shell biochar (PKSBc) which can potentially be a value-added, sustainable biofiller as reinforcement in rubber composites. In this study, PKSBc is hybridized with CB (N660) at different loading ratios to be filled in carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR). This study aims to elucidate the effect of the varying ratios of hybrid CB/PKSBc on the rheological properties, abrasion resistance, and hardness of XNBR composites. In this study, both CB and PKSBc are incorporated into XNBR and were then cured with sulphur. The composites were prepared by using a two-roll mill. Different compositions of hybrid CB/PKSBc were incorporated. The rheological properties and physicomechanical properties, such as abrasion resistance and hardness of the vulcanizates, were investigated. Based on the results, as the loading ratio of PKSBc in hybrid CB/PKSBc increases, the cure time decreases, and the cure rate index increases. The abrasion resistance and hardness values of vulcanizates were maintained by the high loading of PKSBc which was due to the porous structure of PKSBc as shown in the morphological analysis of PKSBc. The pores of PKSBc provided mechanical interlocking to reduce volume loss and maintain the hardness of vulcanizates when subjected to force. With this, PKSBc is proven to be a semi-reinforcing filler that could not only act as a co-filler to existing commercialized CB, but PKSBc could also fully substitute CB as reinforcement in rubber, specifically XNBR as it is able to provide high abrasion resistance and hardness to the rubber composites. This would mean the performance of PKSBc is comparable with CB (N660) when it comes to maintaining the physicomechanical properties of XNBR composites in terms of abrasion resistance and hardness. Therefore, this approach of using eco-friendly filler derived from palm oil agricultural waste (PKSBc) can reduce the abundance of palm oil waste, be a sustainable alternative to act as a co-filler in hybrid CB/PKSBc to decrease the usage of CB, and helps to enhance the quality of existing rubber-based products.

Improved Interlaminar Properties of Glass Fiber/Epoxy Laminates by the Synergic Modification of Soft and Rigid Particles.

Poor interlaminar fracture toughness has been a major issue in glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin (GF/EP) laminate composites. In this paper, soft carboxy-terminated nitrile (CTBN) rubber particles and rigid nano-SiO2 are used to toughen the epoxy resin (EP) matrix to improve the interlayer properties of GF/EP laminate composites. The effects of adding two toughening agents on the mechanical and interlayer properties of GF/EP laminates were studied. The results showed that adding the two kinds of particles improved the mechanical properties of the epoxy matrix. When the additional amount of flexible CTBN rubber particles was 8 wt%, and the rigid nano-SiO2 was 0.5 wt%, the fracture toughness of the matrix resin was increased by 215.8%, and the tensile strength was only decreased by 2.3% compared with the pure epoxy resin. On this basis, the effects of two kinds of particles on the interlayer properties of GF/EP composites were studied. Compared with the unmodified GF/EP laminates, the interlayer shear strength and mode I interlayer fracture toughness is significantly improved by a toughening agent, and the energy release rate GIC of interlayer shear strength and interlayer fracture toughness is increased by 109.2%, and 86.8%, respectively. The flexible CTBN rubber particles and rigid nano-SiO2 improve the interfacial adhesion between GF and EP. The cavitation of the two particles and the plastic deformation of the matrix is the toughening mechanism of the interlayer properties of the composite. Such excellent interlaminar mechanical properties make it possible for GF/EP laminates to be widely used as engineering materials in various industries (e.g., aerospace, hydrogen energy, marine).

Graphene Nanoplatelets as a Replacement for Carbon Black in Rubber Compounds.

In this work, we evaluated the processing and reinforcement characteristics of both carbon black (CB) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) within a nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix. The aspect ratio of the GNPs was measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and related to the dispersion and agglomeration within the NBR matrix, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The relationship between GNP aspect ratio and mechanical properties was studied by micromechanical modelling. The tensile and tear properties of NBR after compounding with GNPs were enhanced to a greater extent compared to carbon black, while curing times were smaller and scorch times longer, indicating some of the advantages of using GNPs. Overall, the inherent properties of GNPs along with their geometry led to the production of better-performing rubber compounds that can replace their CB-filled counterparts in applications where flexibility, tear strength and compliance are important. The influence of processing on dispersion, orientation and agglomeration of flakes was also highlighted with respect to the Young's modulus of the NBR compounds.

Self-Assembled NBR/Nomex Nanofibers as Lightweight Rubbery Nonwovens for Hindering Delamination in Epoxy CFRPs.

Still today, concerns regarding delamination limit the widespread use of high-performance composite laminates, such as carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs), to replace metals. Nanofibrous mat interleaving is a well-established approach to reduce delamination. However, nanomodifications may strongly affect other laminate thermomechanical properties, especially if achieved by integrating soft materials. Here, this limitation is entirely avoided by using rubbery nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/Nomex mixed nanofibers: neither laminate stiffness nor glass-transition temperature (Tg) lowering occurs upon CFRP nanomodification. Stable noncrosslinked nanofibers with up to 60% wt of NBR were produced via single-needle electrospinning, which were then morphologically, thermally, spectroscopically, and mechanically characterized. NBR and Nomex disposition in the nanofiber was investigated via selective removal of the sole rubber fraction, revealing the formation of particular self-assembled structures resembling quasi-core-shell nanofibers or fibril-like hierarchical structures, depending on the applied electrospinning conditions (1.10 and 0.20 mL/h, respectively). Mode I and Mode II loading tests show a significant improvement of the interlaminar fracture toughness of rubbery nanofiber-modified CFRPs, especially GI (up to +180%), while GII enhancement is less pronounced but still significant (+40% in the best case). The two nanofibrous morphologies (quasi-core-shell and fibril-like ones) improve the delamination resistance differently, also suggesting that the way the rubber is located in the nanofibers plays a role in the toughening action. The quasi-core-shell nanofiber morphology provides the best reinforcing action, besides the highest productivity. By contrast, pure Nomex nanofibers dramatically worsen the interlaminar fracture toughness (up to -70% in GI), acting as a release film. The achieved delamination resistance improvements, combined with the retention of both the original laminate stiffness and Tg, pave the way to the extensive and reliable application of NBR/Nomex rubbery nanofibrous mats in composite laminates.

Filler Effects on H2 Diffusion Behavior in Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Blended with Carbon Black and Silica Fillers of Different Concentrations.

Filler effects on H2 diffusion in nitrile butadiene rubbers (NBRs) blended with carbon black and silica fillers of different concentrations are first investigated by employing a volumetric analysis. Total uptake, solubility, and diffusivity of hydrogen for ten filled-NBR, including neat NBR, are determined in an exposed pressure range of 1.3 MPa~92.6 MPa. Filler dependence on hydrogen uptake and diffusion is distinctly observed in the NBRs blended with high abrasion furnace (HAF) carbon black (CB) fillers compared to NBRs blended with medium thermal furnace (MT) CB and silica filler, which is related to the specific surface area of carbon black and interface structure. The HAF CB filled-NBR follows dual sorption behavior combined with Henry's law and the Langmuir model, responsible for two contributions of solubility from polymer and filler. However, a single gas sorption behavior coming from the polymer is observed satisfying Henry's law up to 92.6 MPa for NBR blended with MT CB filled-NBR and silica filled-NBR. Diffusion demonstrates Knudsen and bulk diffusion behavior below and above, respectively, at certain pressures. With increasing pressure, the filler effect on diffusion is reduced, and diffusivity converges to a value. The correlation observed between diffusivity and filler content (or crosslink density) is discussed.

Investigation of the Compatibility and Damping Performance of Graphene Oxide Grafted Antioxidant/Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber Composite: Insights from Experiment and Molecular Simulation.

Rubber damping materials are widely used in electronics, electrical and other fields because of their unique viscoelasticity. How to prepare high-damping materials and prevent small molecule migration has attracted much attention. Antioxidant 4010NA was successfully grafted onto graphene oxide (GO) to prepare an anti-migration antioxidant (GO-4010NA). A combined molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and experimental study is presented to investigate the effects of small molecules 4010NA, GO, and GO-4010NA on the compatibility and damping properties of nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) composites. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that both 4010NA and GO-4010NA had good compatibility with the NBR matrix, and the Tg of GO-4010NA/NBR composite was improved. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) data showed that the addition of GO-4010NA increased the damping performance of NBR than that of the addition of 4010NA. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results show GO-4010NA/NBR composites have the smallest free volume fraction (FFV) and the largest binding energy. GO-4010NA has a strong interaction with NBR due to the forming of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). Grafting 4010NA onto GO not only inhibits the migration of 4010NA but also improves the damping property of NBR matrixes. This study provides new insights into GO grafted small molecules and the design of high-damping composites.

Effect of Organoclay Addition on Rheological, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Nitrile Rubber/Phenolic Resin Blend.

In this study, the effects of NBR polarity and organoclay addition on the curing, rheological, mechanical, and thermal properties of an NBR/phenolic resin blend were investigated. The samples were prepared using a two-roll mill. The results showed that rheological and tensile properties improved due to the good distribution of nanoparticles, as well as the good compatibility of nitrile butadiene rubber with phenolic resin. The addition of 1.5 phr of nanoparticles to blends containing 33% and 45% acrylonitrile increased the curing torque difference by approximately 12% and 28%, respectively. In addition, the scorch time and curing time decreased in nanocomposites. Adding nanoparticles also increased the viscosity. The addition of phenolic resins and nanoparticles has a similar trend in modulus changes, and both of these factors increase the stiffness and, consequently, the elastic and viscous modulus of the specimens. Adding 1.5 phr of organoclay increased the tensile strength of the blends by around 8% and 13% in the samples with low and high content of acrylonitrile, respectively. Increasing the temperature of the tensile test led to a reduction in the tensile properties of the samples. Tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, and hardness of the samples increased with increasing organoclay content. In addition, with increasing nanoparticle concentration, the samples underwent lower deterioration in tensile strength and Young's modulus at different temperatures compared to the blends. In the samples containing 1.5 phr of organoclay, the thermal decomposition temperatures were enhanced by around 24 and 27 °C for low and high acrylonitrile content.

Influence of Carbon Black and Silica Fillers with Different Concentrations on Dielectric Relaxation in Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Investigated by Impedance Spectroscopy.

In neat nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), three relaxation processes were identified by impedance spectroscopy: α and α' processes and the conduction contribution. We investigated the effects of different carbon black (CB) and silica fillers with varying filler content on the dielectric relaxations in NBR by employing a modified dispersion analysis program that deconvolutes the corresponding processes. The central frequency for the α' process with increasing high abrasion furnace (HAF) CB filler was gradually upshifted at room temperature, while the addition of silica led to a gradual downshift of the center frequency. The activation energy behavior for the α' process was different from that for the central frequency. The use of HAF CB led to a rapid increase in DC conductivity, resulting from percolation. The activation energy for the DC conductivity of NBRs with HAF CB decreased with increasing filler, which is consistent with that reported in different groups.

Improved antibacterial and mechanical performances of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber via interface reaction of oxidized starch.

To fabricate antibacterial activity and simultaneous strengthened and toughened carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) composites, starch was oxidized by H2O2 to achieve oxidized starch (OST) with different carboxyl content, meanwhile, ZnO were utilized to promote the in-situ interfacial reaction for improving compatibility of starch and XNBR. The formation of ionic cross-link networks and "Zinc-carboxylate polymers" in the XNBR/OST/ZnO composites were confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS and TEM. Interestingly, because of the carboxyl groups of OSTs which provided a low pH surroundings to inhibit the growth of bacteria, XNBR/OST/ZnO composites achieved a significant antibacterial activity. Noteworthy, the sulfur-free XNBR composites achieved 3.04 and 1.99 times increase for tensile strength and elongation at break compared with neat XNBR. The mechanism of simultaneous strengthened and toughened for composites had been proposed. These new sustainable, green and facile fabricated XNBR/OST/ZnO could be utilized as the medical protective appliance to against the bacteria.

Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Silica/Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Vulcanizates with Eco-Friendly Ionic Liquid.

In this paper we designed greener rubber nanocomposites exhibiting high crosslinking density, and excellent mechanical and thermal properties, with a potential application in technical fields including high-strength and heat-resistance products. Herein 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]OAc) ionic liquid was combined with silane coupling agent to formulate the nanocomposites. The impact of [EMIM]OAc on silica dispersion in a nitrile rubber (NBR) matrix was investigated by a transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscopy. The combined use of the ionic liquid and silane in an NBR/silica system facilitates the homogeneous dispersion of the silica volume fraction (φ) from 0.041 to 0.177 and enhances crosslinking density of the matrix up to three-fold in comparison with neat NBR, and also it is beneficial for solving the risks of alcohol emission and ignition during the rubber manufacturing. The introduction of ionic liquid greatly improves the mechanical strength (9.7 MPa) with respect to neat NBR vulcanizate, especially at high temperatures e.g., 100 °C. Furthermore, it impacts on rheological behaviors of the nanocomposites and tends to reduce energy dissipation for the vulcanizates under large amplitude dynamic shear deformation.

Data on compressibility of NBR samples with various cross-linking degree and zinc oxide content immersed in gasoline and oil.

NBR materials are widely used in oil refining, automotive industry and aviation due to the high tensile strength and elasticity, resistance to dilute acids. During operation with oils and fuels NBR materials undergo aging, which results in deterioration of the properties of materials [1]. The data on compressibility of NBR samples with 0, 1 and 10% zinc oxide and various cross-linking degree immersed in oil at 150°C for 5 hours and in gasoline at room temperature for 5 hours according to ASTM F146 - 12 [2] was collected. The cross-linking degree of NBR was calculated as the ratio of the heats of cure of samples vulcanized at specified temperate and time and unvulcanized samples as described at ISO 11357-5:2013 [3]. Compressibility was measured using a Tinius Olsen H5KS tensile testing machine according to ASTM F36 - 15 [4]. The data demonstrates the influence of vulcanized conditions and zinc oxide as a sulfur vulcanization activator content on compressibility change after deterioration in oil.