Infrared Spectroscopy and Thermal Stability Studies of Natural Rubber-Barium Ferrite Composites

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR)-barium ferrite (BaF) composites (RFCs) have been prepared. Structural features of the composites were characterized by Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that there is small variation of glass transition temperature (≈ –1℃). The activation energy of glass transition was calculated by Kissinger method and has values between (53-110 kJ/mol). Thermodynamic parameters such as activated entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy were calculated for glass transition also. Thermogravimetric analysis TG and its derivative DTG showed one stage thermal decomposition between 300℃-400℃ with weight loss between (19.47%-52.13%). Increasing barium ferrite loading will increase the thermal stability of natural rubber. The kinetic parameters such as activation energy, entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy for composites in the decomposition region were calculated and analyzed using Coats-Redfern technique.