Sulfur and peroxide curing of rubber magnetic composites with the application of zinc methacrylate

Rubber magnetic composites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and strontium ferrite were cured with standard sulfur-based vulcanization systems as well as an organic peroxide. Zinc methacrylate (ZDMA) as a coagent was applied in both sulfur and peroxide vulcanization of rubber magnets. The aim was to evaluate the influence of ZDMA on curing characteristics and cross-link density of the prepared materials. Subsequently, physical-mechanical and magnetic properties were investigated. The results showed that ZDMA takes an active part in the cross-linking process of composites cured with an organic peroxide. Due to the presence of free radicals formed from peroxide decomposition, molecules of ZDMA polymerize into the nanostructures which can be physically adsorbed or chemically grafted onto rubber chains. Moreover, owing to zinc ions, ZDMA exhibits strong adhesion to ferrite filler and thus it contributes to the improvement of adhesion between the rubber and the filler on the interphase. The overall reinforcement of rubber magnetic composites was subsequently achieved. In the case of rubber magnets cured with the sulfur-based system, ZDMA acts as a conventional filler with a slight reinforcing effect due to the lack of free radicals required for its polymerization.