A comparison between the SBR vulcanizates reinforced by magnesium methacrylate added directly or prepared in situ

The styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) cured by dicumyl peroxide was reinforced by magnesium methacrylate [Mg(MAA)2], which was added into SBR directly or prepared in situ in SBR through the neutralization of magnesium oxide (MgO) and methacrylic acid (MAA). The experimental results show that the SBR vulcanizates reinforced by Mg(MAA)2 prepared in situ have better mechanical properties than those reinforced by Mg(MAA)2 added directly. The SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)2 prepared in situ are semi-transparent, but those with Mg(MAA)2 added directly are opaque. The Fourier transform infrared analysis shows that the polymerization conversion of Mg(MAA)2 in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)2 prepared in situ is much higher than that in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)2 added directly. The scan probe microscopy photographs show that the particles in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)2 prepared in situ are much finer and disperse more evenly than that in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)2 added directly.