TITLE:
Effect of Gamma Irradiation on the Physio-Mechanical Properties of Nitrile Rubber (NBR-6250) Composites Reinforced by Carbon Black N330
AUTHORS:
Mosab Ghanem, Ahmad Makhlouf
KEYWORDS:
Nitrile Rubber, Gamma Radiation, Radiation Vulcanization, Carbon Black, Swelling, Crosslinking
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Organic Chemistry,
Vol.16 No.2,
June
24,
2026
ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effect of the addition of carbon black N330, as a filler and supportive in the properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber NBR-6250, by preparing composites of nitrile rubber containing different percentages of carbon black N330, and then conducting the Vulcanization radiation exposure to different doses of gamma radiation up to (KGy 250), The mechanical properties and the resistance characteristics of some petroleum oils were studied at different radiation doses. The study results showed an increase in tensile strength with the increase of the radiation dose and the increase in the proportion of carbon black loading, achieving the highest tensile strength (24 MPa) at a radiation dose of 150 KGy and a carbon black loading of 50wt%. Then, the tensile strength either stabilizes or begins to decrease with the continuous increase in the radiation dose and carbon black loading. While it was observed that the behavior of elongation at break is contrary to tensile strength behavior. An improvement was also shown in the hardness of the prepared compositions and their resistance to friction with the increase in the radiation dose due, which is attributed to the increase in the number of radiation-induced crosslinking reactions among the macromolecules of the rubber. The results of the study also showed a decrease in the percentage of swelling of the composites prepared in the oils with the increase in radiation dose and also with the increase in loading with carbon black, for instance, the swelling ratio of composites loaded with 50wt% carbon black decreased from 9% to about 5% with an increase in the radiation dose up to 250 KGy. This is because the increased of the crosslinking density of macromolecular chains of rubber with higher radiation doses hinders the penetration and diffusion of oil within the formed three-dimensional rubber network.