Preparation and characterisation of polymer blends reinforced with nano-ZnO and study the thermal and electrical properties for industrial applications

Binary blends of unsaturated polyester (70%) and nitrile rubber (NR) (30%) and their composites are prepared. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) were used as a filler in the hand-lay method. ZnONP weight ratios ranged from 0–3 wt.%. The ZnONPs were characterised using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine their crystalline structure and shape. The thermal and dielectric properties of the samples were examined as a function of filler content. Additionally, the theoretical and experimental densities of the nanocomposites were examined using the mixing rule and Archimedes' principle, respectively. The thermal conductivity and diffusivity values exhibited variations between increasing and decreasing trends as the filler concentrations increased. Among all samples tested, the one containing 2.5% ZnONPs demonstrated the highest thermal conductivity and the lowest diffusivity when compared to the pure blend. As the ZnONP weight ratio increased, the corresponding dielectric constant value rose linearly, while the resistivity decreased linearly. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed a significant improvement in the level of char yield and thermal stability of nanocomposites with increasing ZnONP concentration in the matrix.