Stearate Modified Zinc-Aluminum Layered Double Hydroxides and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber Nanocomposites

Abstract

The aim of this investigation is to highlight the potentials of layered double hydroxides (LDH) and to serve as a replacement for zinc oxide and stearic acid from the basic rubber formulation. This will eventually result in about a 10× significant reduction of Zn²⁺ ion concentration in the final compound. The unique advantage of stearate ion-modified LDH is the delivery of zinc ions to accelerate and stearate ions to activate the vulcanization process. Furthermore, it can also reinforce the rubber matrix by virtue of its layered structure as nanofiller.

Keywords:

• Layered double hydroxide
• Nitrile rubber
• Sulfur vulcanization
• Zinc oxide

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge the contributions of Ms. Uta Reuter for the TEM images, Ms. Regine Boldt for the SEM images and Mr. Holger Scheibner for the mechanical analysis. Eshwaran is thankful to DAAD for the financial support.

Notes

Formulation contains 1.5 phr Sulfur, 0.8 phr TBBS, 2 phr DCP, 5 phr mLDH, 5 phr ZnO, 2 phr St.ac.

*Modulus measured at 50% elongation.