Research Journal of Recent Sciences ________________________________________________ ISSN 2277-2502 Vol. 1 (ISC-2011), 357-360 (2012) Res.J.Recent Sci. Short Communication Preparation and Studies of Nitrile Rubber Nanocomposites with Silane Modified Silica Nanoparticles Das Chayan and Kapgate Bharat P. Department of Chemistry, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, INDIA Available online at, www.isca.in (Received 31th October 2011, revised 9th January 2012, accepted 28th January 2012) Abstract Rubber silica nanocomposites are prepared by mixing nitrile rubber (NBR) with surface modified silica nano particles. Silica nano particles are synthesized by sol-gel method that involves hydrolysis followed by condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). Surface modification of silica particles is done with the treatment of silane coupling agent viz. 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane. Presence of silane coupling agent in silica is revealed by IR studies. Thermogravimetric analysis is done to find out silica content in the composites and to study the thermal properties. Stress strain studies are found to be useful to assess the improvement of the mechanical properties of the composites. Keywords: sol-gel, surface modification, rubber - silica nanocomposite. References 1. Rao K.S., El-Hami K., T Kodaki T., Matsushige K. and Makino K., A novel method for synthesis of silica nanoparticles, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 289, 125–131 (2005) 2. Ibrahim I.A.M., Zikry A.A.F., Sharaf M.A., Preparation of spherical silica nanoparticles: Stober silica, Journal of American Science, 6(11) (2010) 3. Zhou S., Wu L., Shen W., Gu G., Study on the morphology and tribological properties of acrylic based polyurethane/fumed silica composite coatings, J Mater Sci, 39,1593 (2004) 4. Chen Y., Zhou S., Chen G., Wu L., Preparation and characterization of polyester/silica nanocomposite resins, Progress in Organic Coatings, 54, 120–126 (2005) 5. Stober W. and Fink A., Controlled Growth of Monodisperse Silica Spheres in the Micron Size Range, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science,26, 62-69 (1968) 6. Brinker C.J. and Scherer G.W. Sol–gel science, the physics and chemistry of sol–gel processing, Academic Press, New York (1990) 7. Ansarifara A., Azharb A., Ibrahima N., Shiaha S.F., Lawtonc J.M.D., The use of a silanized silica filler to reinforce and crosslink natural rubber, International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives 25, 77–86 (2005) 8. Bassett D.R., Boucher E.A., Zettlemoyer A.C., Adsorption Studies on Hydrated and Dehydrated Silicas, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 27, 649-958 (1968) 9. Zau H., Wu S., Shen J. Polymer/Silica nanocomposites: Preparation, Characterization, Properties and Applications, Chem. Rev., 108, 3893-3957 (2008) 10. Hui R., Yixin Q.U. and Suhe Z., Reinforcement of Styrene-Butadiene Rubber with Silica Modified by Silane Coupling Agents, Experimental and Theoretical Chemistry Study, Chinese J. Chem. Eng., 14(1) 93—98 (2006) 11. Agostino A., Errico M.E., Malinconico M., Rosa M. D., Avella M. and Schiraldi C., Development of nanocomposite based on hydroxyethylmethacrylate and functionalized fumed silica: mechanical, chemico– physical and biological characterization, J Mater Sci: Mater Med 22, 481–490 (2011) 12. Lopattananon N., Jitkalong D. and Seadan M., Hybridized Reinforcement of Natural Rubber with Silane-Modified Short Cellulose Fibers and Silica Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 120, 3242–3254 (2011) 13. Rahman I.A., Jafarzadeh M., Sipaut C.S., Physical and Optical properties of organo-modified silica nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel, J Sol-Gel Sci Technol, 59, 63-72 (2011) 14. Chaichua B., Prasassarakich P. and Poompradub S., In situ silica reinforcement of natural rubber by sol–gel process via rubber solution J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 52, 219–227 (2009) 15. Mahaling R.N., Jana G.K. and Das C.K., Carboxylated Nitrile Elastomer/Filler Nanocomposites: Effect of Silica Nanofiller in Thermal, Dynamic Mechanical Behaviour and Interfacial Adhesion, Macromolecular Research 13, 306-313 (2005) 16. Nasir M., Poh B.T., Ng P.S., Effect of γ-mercapto propyl trimethoxysilane coupling agent on t90, tensile strength and tear strength of silica-filled NR, NBR and SBR vulcanizates, Eur. Polym. J, 24, 961-965 (1988)