The effect of polyurethane and carnauba wax on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene nitrile rubber coating working gloves

Abstract

In this study, the effect of polyurethane (PU) and carnauba wax (CW) on the mechanical and physicochemical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene nitrile rubber coating gloves was investigated. Thermal decomposition and morphological characterizations were carried out using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was done to determine the chemical interactions between NBR and PU in the polymer matrix. After the vulcanization of NBR, including PU and CW, thermal stability was increased. The spectrums of FTIR showed that carboxyl groups of NBR were linked to the PU to form stable complexes between polymeric chains via H-bonding. SEM images showed that because CW acted as a dispersant for the colloidal particles, the surface appeared smooth compared with the non-containing PU/CW samples. Tensile and tear strength and abrasion resistance tests were conducted using the specimens of vulcanized NBR including PU/CW under uniaxial loading. Test specimens were prepared using hydraulic mold according to EN 388 standards. Cross-head speeds were chosen as 100 mm min−1. The chemical and morphological changes due to PU/CW had no significant effects on the macro-mechanical responses of the tensile and tear strength. However, it was obviously determined that the abrasion resistance was enhanced by the increase in the amount of CW.