Effects of acrylonitrile content on the coordination crosslinking reaction between acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber and copper sulfate

The effects of acrylonitrile content in acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) on coordination crosslinking reaction were investigated in the system of NBR filled with copper sulfate (CuSO4) particles by means of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), equilibrium swelling method, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile test. DMA analysis showed that higher the acrylonitrile content in NBR, higher the storage modulus of the CuSO4/NBR composite. The results of equilibrium swelling method and DSC displayed the crosslink density and glass transition temperature of CuSO4/NBR composites increased with increment of the acrylonitrile content, respectively. And the tensile strength of CuSO4/NBR composites became strong with the acrylonitrile content rising. All the results showed that increase acrylonitrile content of NBR could accelerate the coordination crosslinking reaction between NBR and CuSO4. The tensile strength of CuSO4/NBR composites increased with increment of acrylonitrile content, which was attributed to increased interfacial contact area and enhanced interfacial adhesion between CuSO4 and NBR.