This article presents the high loading halloysite nanotubes, Hals (20, 30, 40 and 50 phr) filled self-healing natural rubber nanocomposites crosslinked via ionic bonding networks. The reinforcing effect of high loading Hals on self-healing recovery and mechanical performance of NR were thoroughly examined and characterized by TEM, FT-IR, TGA, SEM, DMA, Anton Paar rheometer, and compression set analysis. It was observed that the high Hals content resulted in 100% improvement in tensile strength with an excellent healing recovery of up to 85% at room temperature without any external source. The reversible network structure formed via ionic crosslinks and its stability was identified by FTIR. TGA results revealed that the developed nanocomposites showed enhanced thermal stability compared to unfilled NR. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed that the healed interfaces adhered well when the cut pieces were merged, suggesting that intermolecular diffusion occurred at the fractured surfaces. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the reinforcing effects of Hals at higher loading on the structure and performance of self-healing natural rubber.
Read full abstract