Formulation and morphology of kaolin-filled rubber composites

Abstract

In the present work the formulation and morphology of novel kaolin-filled rubber composites were investigated. The kaolin-filled rubber composites were obtained by filling rubbers such as natural rubber (NR), styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (ER), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), chloroprene rubber (CR) and methyl vinyl silicon rubber (MVQ). The best formulation of filled rubbers was determined by determining the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. Structural characterization was carried out by using infrared spectroscopy (IR) and a polarizing light microscope (PLM). The kaolin/rubber composites have outstanding mechanical and thermal properties except elongation at break, and good compatibility. The best formulation of kaolin filled rubbers is respectively 40 parts per hundred rubber (phr), 40phr, 50phr, 40phr, 50phr, and 50phr for NR, SBR, BR, NBR, EPDM and CR. Kaolin can replace silica in the specific rubber products, and is suitable to reinforce more steric rigid rubber.