Understanding the Molecular Dynamics of Dual Crosslinked Networks by Dielectric Spectroscopy.

The combination of vulcanizing agents is an adequate strategy to develop multiple networks that consolidate the best of different systems. In this research, sulfur (S), and zinc oxide ( ZnO) were combined as vulcanizing agents in a matrix of carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR). The resulting dual network improved the abrasion resistance of up to ~15% compared to a pure ionically crosslinked network, and up to ~115% compared to a pure sulfur-based covalent network.