Improving the Mechanical/Anticorrosive Properties of a Nitrile Rubber-Based Adhesive Filled with Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Using a Two-Step Surface Modification Method

To prepare a nanocomposite adhesive based on nitrile rubber (NBR) with excellent mechanical/anticorrosion properties, cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles were grafted with bis-[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide silane (TESPT) at different concentrations (i.e., 1, 5, 10, and 20 times the stoichiometric content). The surface-modified nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ζ-potential, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. The results showed that the steaming process resulted in an increase in the grafting ratio (Rg) by 2.35 times. Pure and modified cerium oxide nanoparticles were added at 1.5, 4.5, and 7.5 wt % to a mixture of a phenolic resin and NBR compound to prepare adhesive samples. The prepared adhesives were evaluated for curing behavior and thermomechanical properties. The morphology of the adhesives was also characterized using SEM analysis. The bonding of adhesives to steel plates was measured by a cathodic disbonding test. The adhesive-coated steel plates were evaluated for anticorrosion performances using a salt spray test. It was found that surface-modified hydrothermally steamed CeO2 nanoparticles that had the highest silane grafting ratio enhanced the anticorrosion properties and cathodic disbonding of NBR-based adhesives. The curing rate index (CRI) and crosslinking of the NBR compound were enhanced using the modified and steamed nanoparticles. This also improved the interfacial interactions between rubber chains and nanoparticle surface, resulting in a 6 °C increase in the glass-transition temperature (Tg) of NBR compared to the pristine rubber.