Magnetic composites based on natural rubber prepared by using peroxide and sulfur curing system

Abstract

In this work, rubber magnetic composites were prepared by incorporation of strontium ferrite into elastomeric matrix based on natural rubber. Cross‐linking of the rubber matrix was performed by using sulfur and peroxide curing system. The study was aimed at the investigation of the type of curing system and magnetic filler content on curing process and cross‐link density of prepared materials. Then, the influence of both factors on physical–mechanical and magnetic properties was observed. The obtained results demonstrate that sulfur‐cured composites show better physical–mechanical properties, especially at lower content of strontium ferrite. With increasing amount of ferrite, the differences between the characteristics of both types of composites became less visible, while peroxide‐cured sample with maximum ferrite content showed superior tensile strength in comparison with tensile strength of maximally filled sample cured with sulfur system. The obtained results demonstrate better compatibility between the rubber and the filler when peroxide system was introduced for cross‐linking of the rubber matrix. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.