Abstract
A Zn ion-coated nanosilica filler has been developed and tested, in chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) and polychloroprene (CR), as a vulcanizing activator, cum was reinforcing filler. In this study, ZnO was replaced by the Zn ion-coated nanosilica filler with an aim of studying the dual role of this nanofiller in CSPE and CR. In the case of CSPE vulcanizates, the presence of MgO deteriorated the state and rate of cure when the Zn ion-coated nanosilica filler was used, but in the case of CR it improved the state of cure and enhanced the modulus and tensile strength. The Zn ion-coated filler proved to be a better reinforcing-cum-curing agent than was externally added ZnO and NA-22 also proved to be a better curative in the presence of the Zn ion-coated nanosilica filler for both CSPE and CR.