Abstract
Organoclay nanoparticles (Cloisite® C10A, Cloisite® C15) and their combination with carbon black (N330) were studied as fillers in chloroprene/natural/butadiene rubber blends to prepare nanocomposites. The effect of filler type and load on the physical mechanical properties of nanocomposites was determined and correlated with its structure, compatibility and cure properties using Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and rheometric analysis. Physical mechanical properties were improved by organoclays at 5–7 phr. Nanocomposites with organoclays exhibited a remarkable increase up to 46% in abrasion resistance. The improvement in properties was attributed to good organoclay dispersion in the rubber matrix and to the compatibility between them and the chloroprene rubber. Carbon black at a 40 phr load was not the optimal concentration to interact with organoclays. The present study confirmed that organoclays can be a reinforcing filler for high performance applications in rubber nanocomposites.
Highlights
In the plastic and rubber industry, fillers are additives widely used to improve the physical chemical and mechanical properties of materials and their blends
The same effect was observed for A15-7 nanocomposite with a tear strength of 28.82 N/mm (77% increase, compared to A0)
The interaction between organoclays and carbon black (CB) did not improve tear strength in any of the organoclay concentrations. This result suggests that 40 phr is not the optimal amount of CB required to obtain a good interaction with Cloisite® 10A (C10A) or Cloisite® 15 (C15) organoclays in the chloroprene rubber (CR)/natural rubber (NR)/butadiene rubber (BR) rubber matrix
Summary
In the plastic and rubber industry, fillers are additives widely used to improve the physical chemical and mechanical properties of materials and their blends. Nanoclays have attracted considerable attention as the most commonly used nanostructured fillers in rubber compounding. Due to their small particle size and large surface area, it is possible to obtain materials with better properties than macro fillers. A lower amount of nanofillers has a significant impact on the final nanocomposite properties [5,6]. Blends of natural rubber (NR) with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) are significant due to a combination of properties, such as good abrasion resistance and excellent oil resistance [9], while those with chloroprene rubber (CR) are noticed for their good weather resistance [10]. Nanocomposite rubber made from chloroprene and its blends has scarcely been researched
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