Novel plasticizer for acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and its effect on physico-mechanical and electrical properties of the vulcanizates

In the manuscript, the quaternization method followed by anion exchange reaction was used to prepare 1-dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C12MIM]BF4− ionic liquid (IL). The prepared IL was verified through Fourier transform infrared and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The IL, as a novel plasticizer, is incorporated into the acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composite with different contents from 1 to 5 phr in comparison with dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as a traditional plasticizer. The IL effect on the rheology, mechanical, electrical properties of the vulcanizates and their resistance to thermal ageing were investigated. The morphology of NBR composites was investigated by a scanning electron microscope. The results show that adding IL to the NBR vulcanizates improves both mechanical and electrical properties of composites more than traditional DOP.