The morphology, mechanical and dynamic properties, fire hazard and toxicity of chloroprene and butadiene rubber composites cross-linked with zinc
Authors:
- Aleksandra Smejda-Krzewicka,
- Przemysław Rybiński,
- Dariusz Bradło,
- Witold Żukowski
Abstract
This paper presents the influence of zinc on the cross-linking process, mechanical and dynamic properties, morphologies and balance of thermal degradation of blends containing chlo- roprene rubber (CR) and butadiene rubber (BR). The novel aspect of this research is a comprehen- sive approach presenting a new curing agent for the CR/BR blends to increase their cross-linking density and final properties, including non-flammability and low fire hazard. This is due to the need to find an alternative to zinc oxide, which is the standard curing agent for chloroprene rubber. The regulations of the European Union enforce a significant limitation on the use of this compound in elastomer technology, due to its harmful effect on aquatic organisms. In this paper, the CR/BR composites were cured with zinc and filled with natural silica fillers (sillitin or chalcedonite) or synthetic silica filler (aerosil). The investigation focused on the morphology characterization of the obtained compounds, their cross-linking degree, swelling, mechanical and dynamic properties, fire hazard and toxicity. The structure of cured CR/BR blends was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fire resistance studies were performed using cone calorimetry or oxygen index methods, whereas toxicity tests were performed with the use of the FB-FTIR (fluidized bed reactor coupled with FTIR analyzer) method. The results showed that obtained CR/BR products were characterized by satisfactory final properties. The properties determined by the oxygen index and cone calorimetry methods, including the behaviors of the tested CR/BR vulcanizates in fire conditions, showed that the produced compounds were characterized by a low fire hazard and can be classified as non-combustible rubber products. However, the toxicity of the decomposition products, determined at 450, 550 and 750 °C, was very high.
- Record ID
- CUTcc5fee70609444f9a4718a81ec609300
- Publication categories
- ;
- Author
- Journal series
- Materials, ISSN , e-ISSN 1996-1944, Biweekly
- Issue year
- 2023
- Vol
- 16
- No
- 3
- Pages
- [1-19]
- Article number
- 1240
- Other elements of collation
- fot.; schem.; tab.; wykr.; Bibliografia (na s.) - 18-19; Bibliografia (liczba pozycji) - 34; Oznaczenie streszczenia - Abstr.; Numeracja w czasopiśmie - Vol. 16, Iss. 3
- Substantive notes
- Special Issue: Morphology, Flammability, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polymer Composites
- Keywords in English
- elastomer composites, cross-linking, vulcanization, zinc, morphology, tensile strength, Payne effect, fire resistance, fire hazard, toxicity, oxygen index, cone calorimetry
- ASJC Classification
- DOI
- DOI:10.3390/ma16031240 Opening in a new tab
- URL
- https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/3/1240 Opening in a new tab
- Language
- eng (en) English
- License
- Score (nominal)
- 140
- Score source
- journalList
- Score
- Publication indicators
- Additional fields
- Indeksowana w: Web of Science, Scopus
- Uniform Resource Identifier
- https://cris.pk.edu.pl/info/article/CUTcc5fee70609444f9a4718a81ec609300/
- URN
urn:pkr-prod:CUTcc5fee70609444f9a4718a81ec609300
* presented citation count is obtained through Internet information analysis, and it is close to the number calculated by the Publish or PerishOpening in a new tab system.