Chlorinated styrene butadiene rubber/ zinc sulfide: novel nanocomposites with unique properties- structural, flame retardant, transport and dielectric properties

Chlorinated styrene butadiene rubber (Cl-SBR)/ zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanocomposites were prepared by a simple two-roll mill mixing technique. The interaction between the ZnS nanoparticles and Cl-SBR was assessed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dielectric constant, oil resistance, flame retardancy and the transport properties of nanocomposites with aromatic hydrocarbons were also analyzed with special attention to the loading of nanoparticles. The spectroscopic studies revealed the existence of a strong interfacial interaction between rubber chain and ZnS nanoparticles. TEM analysis showed the attachment of ZnS nanoparticles in the chlorinated SBR having nanosize region. SEM and XRD showed the uniform arrangement of nanoparticles in the elastomeric network. The presence of ZnS nanoparticles in the rubber matrix was confirmed through EDX spectroscopy. The thermal stability, flame retardancy and oil resistance properties of the nanocomposites were significantly enhanced by the addition of nanoparticles. Composite with 7 phr loading showed the maximum dielectric constant and beyond this loading, the dielectric property decreased due to the agglomeration of nanoparticles. Transport behavior of nanocomposites in benzene, toluene and xylene were analyzed in the temperature range of 27 to 70 degrees C. Swelling parameters such as rate constant, sorption, diffusion, and permeation coefficient were estimated. The mechanism of transport of the aromatic solvents in the filled Cl-SBR was found to be following anomalous mode. Temperature dependence of diffusion was used to study the activation parameters of the prepared samples.