The performance improvement of basketball shell prepared with nanomaterials modified rubber supported by wet mixing method

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of rubber composite combined with carbon nanotubes to improve its physicochemical properties during the vulcanization process, thereby improving the quality of basketballs. Natural rubber and butyl rubber were mixed in a 7:3 ratio to prepare a rubber composite. Subsequently, the rubber composite was mixed with carbon nanotubes. The results demonstrate that the rubber nanocomposite prepared using wet mixing exhibits thermal aging resistance. Furthermore, the rubber nanocomposite demonstrates excellent vulcanization characteristics, which can achieve a reduction in the cure time of the rubber nanocomposite exceeding 10%. Additionally, the rubber nanocomposite shows good compatibility and mechanical properties, such as elongation at break, hardness, swelling coefficient, and cross-linking density. Notably, under high sulfur and low sulfur conditions, the decrease in tensile strength of the rubber nanocomposite is significantly smaller compared to that under the normal conditions, indicating a substantial enhancement in flexural resistance for this rubber nanocomposite. In conclusion, the prepared rubber nanocomposite shows an improvement in mechanical properties, which holds valuable implications for enhancing the quality of rubber basketballs and promoting applications of rubber products.