Self‐assembled carbon nanofibers–silica nanocomposites for hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber reinforcement

Abstract

AbstractIn order to enhance the dispersion of silica (SiO2) in hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and improve the mechanical properties of rubber composites, carbon nanofibers–silica (CNFs–SiO2) nanocomposites were prepared by the self‐assembly method and used as fillers in HNBR to obtain CNFs–SiO2/HNBR rubber composites. The composition, structures, and properties of CNFs–SiO2 nanocomposites and CNFs–SiO2/HNBR rubber composites were investigated. The results show that SiO2 loaded onto the surface of CNFs by electrostatic adsorption can significantly attenuate SiO2 nanoparticle agglomeration and improve the dispersion of nanocomposites in rubber. The maximum tensile strength (26.7 MPa), this peak strength was 1.6 times that of SiO2/HNBR and 3 times that of CNFs/HNBR, elongation at break (445%), and tear strength (43.7 kN/m) of CNFs–SiO2/HNBR were all reached at a CNF mass percentage of 4% and filling fraction of 50 phr. These results indicate that CNFs–SiO2 as a reinforcing filler can significantly improve rubber mechanical properties.