Preparation and physical properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber nanocomposites filled with zinc dimethacrylate

Elastomeric nanocomposites were prepared by employing zinc dimethacrylate into an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, and their network structures, mechanical properties, and fracture morphologies were investigated according to the adding methods and contents of zinc dimethacrylate. The total crosslink density increased with increasing the zinc dimethacrylate level, due to increased ionic bonds. Both the tensile strength and tear strength increased with increasing zinc dimethacrylate loadings, and then decreased after reaching a maximum value. It was found that the tear strength and crack resistance were greatly affected by the mixing method of zinc dimethacrylate. The in-situ nanocomposites, where zinc dimethacrylate particles were formed by the reaction of zinc oxide and methacrylic acid, showed much improved tear strength and crack resistance compared to those of the nanocomposites based on the direct mixing of zinc dimetacrylate powders. This was because of the finer zinc dimethacrylate particles and improved dispersion of the in-situ nanocomposites.