A Brief description of the Application of Nano Cerium Oxide in Rubber

1Improve the processing performance of rubber

1.1 Vulcanization Promotion Effect

A rubber vulcanization accelerator is a type of substance that can accelerate the reaction between rubber and vulcanizing agents. Currently used inorganic accelerators

Most accelerators are complexes of transition metals and alkaline earth metals. This type of accelerator is generally relatively stable when vulcanized during use.

It has shortcomings such as poor sex, easy to scorch, and certain toxicity. Therefore, people are constantly developing new accelerators to make them last longer.

Scorch time can also improve vulcanization acceleration efficiency. Research has found that nanometer cerium oxide (VK-CE01) can accelerate rubber vulcanization.

The results of the rubber vulcanization performance selectivity test results of nano-cerium oxide (VK-CE01) in the production formula of rubber shoe outsoles show that this new rare earth accelerator can replace the three accelerator systems currently used in production, and the usage amount is only the original One-fifth of the dosage, the physical and mechanical properties of rubber shoes reach the national first-class standard, and the scorch performance and vulcanization acceleration performance are not inferior to traditional rubber shoes.

System accelerator. Compared with traditional accelerators, this type of rare earth accelerator can generally improve the vulcanization speed and scorch safety of rubber materials, and can also improve the physical and mechanical properties of rubber materials.

2Improve the chemical properties of rubber

2.1 Antioxidant effect

Olefin rubbers containing unsaturated carbon chains, such as natural rubber, are more susceptible to oxidative aging than saturated carbon chain rubbers. Usually, the main way to prevent the oxidation of polymer materials is to add antioxidants. Experiments show that nanometer cerium oxide (VK-CE01) has strong resistance to thermal oxidation of natural rubber. Rare earth elements complex to form some complex structures before thermal oxidation, which hinders the oxidation process. The olefinic acid, ketene, etc. produced after thermal oxidation also form complexes with rare earths, hindering the continuation of the oxidation process.

2.2 Improve heat resistance

Silicone rubber is a linear, high molecular-weight polyorganosiloxane. The molecular backbone is composed of Si-O. Compared with ordinary rubber whose main chain is C-C bond, it has excellent heat resistance. , weather resistance, cold resistance electrical properties, etc. It is precisely because of these performance characteristics that silicone rubber vulcanized products have been widely used in various fields such as aviation, electronics, electrical, automobiles, machinery, medical care, and daily necessities. The most significant feature of silicone rubber is heat resistance, so it is widely used in high-temperature applications. With the development of science and technology, especially national defense and cutting-edge technology, higher requirements have been placed on its heat resistance. Therefore, further improving its heat resistance is one of the main research directions of silicone rubber. Starting from the regularity of the thermal aging process of silicone rubber, there are several methods to improve the heat resistance of silicone rubber. Among them, adding heat-resistant additives to prevent oxidative cross-linking of the E chain and cyclization depolymerization of the main chain is a relatively simple and economical method. Research has found that adding nano-cerium oxide (VK-CE01) can improve the heat resistance of silicone rubber. Nano CeO2 is a light-colored heat-resistant additive, and heat-resistant silicone rubber with special color requirements is more valuable.

3. Nanoparticles strengthen and toughen rubber

Because nanomaterials have four unique and important effects, (A. Small size effect: the periodic boundary conditions of crystals are destroyed; the atomic density near the surface layer of amorphous nanoparticles is reduced, resulting in sound, light, and Physical properties such as electricity, magnetism, and heat showing small size effects. B. Surface effect: The size of nanoparticles is small, the number of surface atoms increases, the surface area and surface tension become larger, and the coordination of atoms is insufficient, making the surface atoms highly active and easy to interact with other atoms. Combined. C. Quantum size effect: When the particle size drops to a certain value, the electron energy level near the Fermi level of the metal changes from quasi-continuous to discrete energy levels, and the energy gap of nano-semiconductor particles becomes wider. D. Quantum Tunneling effect: Microscopic particles have the ability to penetrate potential barriers, called the tunneling effect.) It is very useful for the design and development of new materials, so nanomaterials are known as "the most promising materials in the 21st century."

4. Application of nano-oxides in rubber

An important aspect of the application of nanomaterials in the rubber industry is the manufacture of high-performance reinforcing materials. Research shows that nano-oxides can reinforce rubber. Powder material reinforced rubber has a "reinforcement critical particle size", which is around 100nm. When the particle size of the powder is as small as around 100nm, the reinforcing effect on the rubber is significantly enhanced, and the reinforcing properties undergo a sudden change.

After filling with nano-cerium oxide (VK-CE01), the rubber vulcanization time is reduced, but the scorch time is also reduced. The reinforcing effect of nano-cerium oxide (VK-CE01) on rubber properties is related to the particle size and filling amount. Large-particle cerium oxide has a smaller reinforcing effect on rubber, while small-particle nano-cerium oxide (VK-CE01) has a less reinforcing effect on rubber. The strong effect is greatly improved. In particular, the tear strength and wear resistance are greatly improved. As the particle size decreases, the comprehensive physical properties of cerium oxide on rubber tend to increase. This is because as the particle size of cerium oxide decreases, it becomes less easily dispersed in the rubber, affecting its reinforcing properties. Nano-cerium oxide (VK-CE01) can greatly improve the aging performance of rubber.

5. After filling natural rubber with nanometer cerium oxide (VK-CE01), the vulcanization time and scorch time of the rubber are reduced, and the physical and mechanical properties and aging properties of the vulcanized rubber are improved, especially the tear strength and wear resistance are greatly improved. The tear strength is increased by more than 25%, and the wear resistance is increased by more than 20%. This has important application value for rubber products with higher requirements on these two indicators, such as tank load wheels and rubber track shoes, to increase the service life. The improvement of the physical properties of rubber is related to the particle size and filling amount of nano-cerium oxide.