STUDY ON UTILITY OF SYNTHESIZED TiO2 NANOPARTICLES IN STYRENE-BUTADIENE RUBBER MATRICS

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and utilization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) in rubber composites with a focus on understanding their impact on mechanical properties, cure characteristics, and crosslink density of SBR composites. TiO2-NPs were synthesized through the sol-gel method and characterized by using techniques X-ray diffraction (XRD). The average size of these synthesized particles was found to be 25±10 nm by X-ray diffraction. The synthesized TiO2-NP was then incorporated into rubber matrices using a two-roll mill. The impact of nano additives was assessed in SBR compounding at different loading concentrations (1–7 phr) of TiO2- NPs (nTiO2) and conventional TiO2 (cTiO2). They were discovered to have an impact on the physico-mechanical characteristics of SBR composites. The study reveals that the addition of TiO2-NPs influences the cure characteristics, mechanical properties, and hardness of SBR composites. This research contributes to the understanding of how TiO2- NPs can be effectively utilized to enhance the mechanical properties of rubber composites, offering insights for the development of advanced materials with improved performance for various industrial applications.