Hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber/modified zinc carbonate basic composites with photoluminescence properties

A functional composite with unique photoluminescence property, excellent mechanical property and fine thermal stabilities were prepared through reactive blending of the hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber (HXNBR) and modified zinc carbonate basic (m-3Zn(OH)2·2ZnCO3). The m-3Zn(OH)2·2ZnCO3 was obtained by sedimentation modification in superheated water using zinc nitrate and ammonium carbonate as raw materials, and was afforded better thermal stability. Photoluminescence spectra of the HXNBR/m-3Zn(OH)2·2ZnCO3 composites showed a characteristic emission band at 353 nm, and the luminescence intensity of the composites increased with increasing sedimentation modification time and loading of m-3Zn(OH)2·2ZnCO3. The samples were further studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that the unique photoluminescence property of the HXNBR/m-3Zn(OH)2·2ZnCO3 composites was attributed to formation of the interface kernel/coating by an ester-like linkage -(CO)-O-[ZnO] from HXNBR and m-3Zn(OH)2·2ZnCO3.