Rubber/clay nanocomposites by combined latex compounding and melt mixing: A masterbatch process: Fid-Bau Portal

Rubber/clay nanocomposites by combined latex compounding and melt mixing: A masterbatch process

Tan, Jinghua / Wang, Xiaoping / Luo, Yuanfang / Jia, Demin

Highlights ► Rubber/Ca-montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared by the masterbatch process. ► Latex compounding method is efficient to improve the Ca-montmorillonite dispersion. ► Exfoliated structure was obtained in the masterbatch by latex compounding method. ► Intercalated and exfoliated structures were achieved in the vulcanizate. ► The properties of vulcanizate are improved by the addition of Ca-montmorillonite.

Abstract Rubber/Ca-montmorillonite (Ca-MMT) nanocomposites with well exfoliated Ca-MMT layers were prepared by combination of latex compounding and melt mixing. Firstly, a high Ca-MMT content masterbatch was co-coagulated by natural rubber (NR) latex and modified Ca-MMT aqueous suspension through latex compounding. The masterbatch was added in the system of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) by melt mixing subsequently. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) results showed that intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites were obtained by the masterbatch technique. The effects of modified Ca-MMT introduction into the rubber matrix, via the masterbatch technique, on the properties of the resulting composites were studied. It was found that the vulcanization was hindered by the incorporation of modified Ca-MMT, while mechanical performances, thermal stability and aging resistance were improved. The increasingly glass transition temperature and the storage modulus with the loading of modified Ca-MMT were measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA).