ZnO nanoparticles anchored to silica filler. A curing accelerator for isoprene rubber composites

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were anchored to SiO2 spherical nanoparticles by hydrolysis and condensation of Zn(CH3COO)2 in the presence of SiO2. The ZnO/SiO2 NPs were then blended with isoprene rubber. The immobilization of ZnO NPs on the silica surface, due to covalent SiAOAZn bonds provides a homogeneous dispersion of zinc in the rubber matrix and increases the accessibility of the curative reactants to Zn2+ ions. This improves the efficiency of the rubber curing and reduces the amount of used ZnO.