Synthesis of Natural Rubber/Palygorskite Nanocomposites via Silylation and Cation Exchange

Abstract

This aim of this work is to study the synthesis of the natural rubber (NR)/palygorskite (PAL) nancomposites through silylation and cation exchange method. The properties of the vulcanizates are observed to investigate how different surface modification affects the properties of the nanocomposites. The results for curing characteristics, tensile properties, tear strength, hardness, crosslink density, rubber-filler interaction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) are discussed. It is found that the NR/PAL nanocomposites have improved properties compared to NR. NR/PAL using silylation method shows higher tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength than NR/PAL using cation exchange method whereas NR/PAL using cation exchange method has higher modulus, hardness, crosslink density and lower rubber—filler interaction. The results are supported by SEM and TEM images. FTIR result shows new peaks signify the surface modification occurred. XRD pattern indicates that the modified PAL intercalates in the rubber matrix and the Tg values of NR/PAL nanocomposites decreased as a function of temperature.