ZnO nanoparticles anchored to silica filler. A curing accelerator for isoprene rubber composites

• ZnO nanoparticles were anchored to SiO2 spherical nanoparticles by sol–gel method.
• ZnO/SiO2 nanoparticles were used to prepare cured isoprene rubber nanocomposites.
• ZnO/SiO2 nanoparticles act as curing activator and simultaneously reinforcing filler.
• In ZnO/SiO2 Zn2+-ions are highly dispersed and accessible to the curing reactants.
• The efficiency of the rubber curing is improved, reducing the amount of used ZnO.

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were anchored to SiO2 spherical nanoparticles by hydrolysis and condensation of Zn(CH3COO)2 in the presence of SiO2. The ZnO/SiO2 NPs were then blended with isoprene rubber. The immobilization of ZnO NPs on the silica surface, due to covalent SiOZn bonds provides a homogeneous dispersion of zinc in the rubber matrix and increases the accessibility of the curative reactants to Zn2+ ions. This improves the efficiency of the rubber curing and reduces the amount of used ZnO.

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