Dielectric and Curing Properties of ZnFe2O4 Loaded Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR 25)

Abstract

Electroceramic with high magnetic properties such as ZnFe2O4 is widely used in many electronic device applications. One of the major drawbacks of electroceramic is the difficulty in molding and processing into desired shapes due to its brittle nature. Flexible electroceramic with the superior process and mold abilities can be made by mixing magnetic ceramic with a flexible matrix, for instance, rubber. In this present study, the aims were to produce ZnFe2O4 loaded epoxidized natural rubber (ENR 25) as well as to determine its electrical and curing properties. The magnetic ceramic of ZnFe2O4 was blended with ENR 25 at different loadings varying from 0 to 120 parts per hundred of rubber (phr) in an interval of 20. The properties of produced composites include scorch time, cure time, torque and dielectric properties were characterised. The results demonstrated that the increase of ZnFe2O4 concentration in ENR 25 leads to a significant increase in the dielectric constant from 4.94 to 5.62 at 1.15 MHz, and decrease in the dielectric loss curves of the composites start from 0.0827 to 0.0586. Furthermore, the results of curing property studies exhibited an increasing pattern of the composite torques, starting from 1.43 to 1.76 dN.m.