Synthetic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as Curing Agent for Polychloroprene.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesised by a homogeneous precipitation and calcination method. Their dimensions were in the range of 30 - 50 nm. Their performance as curing agent for polychloroprene rubber was compared to that of rubber grade zinc oxide. The tensile strength was observed to increase by 30% and elongation at break by 10%, with the tensile modulus almost unaltered. The crosslink density was increased by 15% and the dynamic modulus at 25 °C was also 10% higher for the nanocomposites. The results from FTIR spectrometry and volume fraction of rubber in the swollen gel supported the fact that there was an increased interaction between the rubber and ZnO for the nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]