Effect of ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized by Precipitation Method on Cure Characteristics and Morphology of EPDM Foam

Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by precipitation method using zinc nitrate tetrahydrate and sodium hydroxide as starting materials. ZnO nanoparticles synthesized exhibited a crystalline structure with hexagonal structure. The average primary size of ZnO synthesized around 22.71 nm and the specific surface area around 28.17 m2/g. EPDM foam used oxy-bis benzene sulfonylhydrazide (OBSH) as blowing agent and ZnO nanoparticles synthesized as activator of sulphur vulcanization. The effect of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized compared with conventional ZnO on cure characteristics and morphology of EPDM foam were investigated. The result showed that the maximum torque (MH) increased, optimum cure time (t90) and scorch time (T5) decreased with increasing ZnO nanoparticles synthesized loading. The cell structure of EPDM foam was spherulite and smaller when increased ZnO nanoparticles synthesized loading. The compressive load value increased with increasing ZnO nanoparticles synthesized loading which may be attributed to thickness of the cell wall and hardness increased. ZnO nanoparticles synthesized could be reduced successfully from 5 to 3 phr (40%) for EPDM foam.