Abstract
Lithium acrylate (LiAA) was in situ prepared in nitrile rubber (NBR) through neutralization of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and acrylic acid (AA) during mixing. The NBR/LiAA compounds were vulcanized with dicumyl peroxide (DCP). The in situ preparation and polymerization of LiAA were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. The micrographs of the compounds and vulcanizates were explored using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of DCP and LiAA contents on the water-swelling and mechanical properties of the vulcanizates were studied. The relationship between the LiOH/AA molar ratio and the properties of the vulcanizates was investigated. The results showed that the in situ formed LiAA could improve the mechanical properties and water–swelling properties of the NBR/LiAA vulcanizates. The vulcanizates properly compounded had high water-swelling ratio over 800% and tensile strength more than 12MPa. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements indicated that the water absorbed in the vulcanizate existed in PLiAA and NBR networks in three different physical states, namely, free water, freezable bound water and non-freezable bound water.