Effect of nanosized titania on the structure and properties of the composites based on butadienenitrile rubber

Abstract

Nanocomposites based on butadienenitrile rubber (butadiene copolymer with 28% acrylonitrile) with functional titania nanoparticles of different nature have been obtained, and their complex study by X-ray diffractometry, small-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe X-ray microanalysis, and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy has been performed. Differences in the morphology and composition of the surface and transverse cuts of nanocomposites in dependence of nanoparticle characteristics are established. It is found that the nanocomposites with the largest crystallite sizes have the lowest viscosity. It is also revealed that the nature of titania nanoparticles barely affects the vulcanization kinetics, and that the optimal vulcanization time for the composites is 25 min. Uniaxial extension tests have shown that nanocomposites with the best properties can be fabricated by introducing amorphous titania into the polymer (butadienenitrile rubber).