Investigation and Optimization of Mechanical Properties of Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber/Polyvinyl Chloride/NiFe2O4 Nanocomposite

In this study, nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) based nanocomposites reinforced with PVC as a polymeric filler and NiFe2O4 as nanofllers with different weight fractions (wt%) were prepared and characterized. The experiments were developed according to response surface methodology (RSM) combined with central composite design (CCD) to optimize the effects of two variable parameters (PVC and NiFe2O4) on the mechanical properties. The NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method and, the NBR/PVC/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites were prepared by two-roll mill method. The elongation and tensile strength of the optimized nanocomposite were obtained to be 300 % and 18 MPa, respectively. The surface SEM images showed that the NiFe2O4 NPs were well distributed in the NBR matrix. Furthermore, cross-sectional SEM images showed that the cracks on the nanocomposite matrix decreased compared to pure NBR. Also, NBR/PVC/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite shows weak ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature than NiFe2O4NPs. The NiFe2O4 NPs and optimal sample of NBR/PVC/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM).