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Functionalized Nanosilica for Vulcanization Efficiency and Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Composites

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Accelerator functional character was introduced on nanosilica by chemical reaction of sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX) with nanosilica (NS). Functional characteristics of nanosilica were confirmed by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. This SIPX functionalized nanosilica (SIPX-NS) incorporated natural rubber (NR) composites were used to evaluate the dispersion of silica in rubber and also the interaction between rubber and filler. The finely dispersed SIPX-NS particles in the NR matrix are revealed from the morphological analysis. Subtle changes in the surface chemistry of silica had a profound influence on dispersibility in the NR matrix. NR 4SIPX-NS composite showed an increase in tensile strength by 10%, flex crack initiation resistance by 13%, tensile strength retention by 16% and cure time reduced by 2 min relative to those of NR 3NS composite. This simple, efficient and cost-effective surface modification of silica improved the vulcanization efficiency and mechanical performance of NR composites and has great potential in the fabrication of high-performance polymer composites.

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Acknowledgments

We thank J J Murphy Research Centre, Rubber Park India (P) Ltd., Valayanchirangara for rheological characterization and mechanical property analysis and Department of Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology for FESEM and EDX analysis.

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My research didn’t generate any data or I reused existing data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin, 682022, India

    P. Dileep & Sunil K. Narayanankutty

  2. J J Murphy Research Centre, Rubber Park India Pvt. Ltd., Airapuram, Kerala, 683556, India

    P. Dileep

  3. Department of Chemistry, St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth, Thrissur, Kerala, 680611, India

    Sinto Jacob

  4. Department of Chemistry, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, Kerala, 682011, India

    C. S. Julie Chandra

  5. Department of Chemistry, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Kochi, Kerala, 682013, India

    C. D. Midhun Dominic

  6. Department of Chemistry, Sree Sankara Vidyapeetom College, Valayanchirangara, Kochi, Kerala, 683556, India

    M. P. Poornima

  7. Department of Chemistry, Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, Kerala, 678001, India

    John P. Rappai

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Contributions

Dileep P.: Conceptualization, methodology, visualization, investigation and writing. Sinto Jacob: Conceptualization, writing, reviewing and editing. Julie Chandra C.S.: Data curation and resources. Midhun Dominic C.D.: Data curation, writing and reviewing. Poornima M.P.: Data curation, resources and reviewing. John P. Rappai: Writing, reviewing and editing. Sunil K. Narayanankutty.: Supervision, writing, reviewing and editing.

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Correspondence to P. Dileep.

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Highlights

- Sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX) is an efficient accelerator for silica modification.

- SIPX- bound nanosilica reduces cure time of natural rubber (NR) compounds.

- SIPX modification leads to improved silica - rubber interaction.

- Thermal aging properties of NR composites are improved by SIPX-NS addition.

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Dileep, P., Jacob, S., Chandra, C.S.J. et al. Functionalized Nanosilica for Vulcanization Efficiency and Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Composites. Silicon 14, 4411–4422 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01281-3

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