Preparation and Characterization of Cross-Linked Natural Rubber/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Clay Nanocomposites

Polymer composites have a wide range of applications in electronics, transportation, construction and consuming products.In recent years, polymer/clay nanocomposites have been extensively studied due to improved properties of the material produced. In addition, polymer/nanotube nanocomposites have been given a special attention because of the unique properties of carbon nanotubes. One of the problems of using these fillers separately is the existence of their agglomerations. It was suggested to overcome this problem and also to obtain new properties of the products by using of two fillers. In this study, nanocompositesof natural rubber (NR)/Octadecylamine modified montmorillonite(ODA-MMT), NR/multi-walled carbon nanotube(MWNT) and /MWNT/ODA-MMT, crosslinked by Luperox 231xl-40, were prepared by using melt blending method and characterized. TheNR/ODA-MMT nanocomposites produced were of intercalation and exfoliation types as proved by XRD and TEM analyses. The presence the ODA-MMTin the composites improved their tensile strengthof around 40%, storage modulus and thermal stability. Similar effects (of around 30% increases in tensile strength)were observed when the ODA-MMT was replaced with 3.00 phr MWNT which was dispersed as single and agglomerated fibers, in the composites. When both a mixture MWNT and ODA-MMTwere used in the nanocomposites, the dispersion of the MWNT in the matrix improved, although some of the fibers were still in the agglomerated form. Addition of 3.00 phr of the MWNT increases 9% of the tensile strength higher compared to that of the NR/ODA-MMT nanocomposite butdecreasesthe thermal stability. However, when the MWNT was chemically treated and used in the nanocomposites, both storage modulus and thermal stability were enhanced, despite insignificant effect on the tensile strength.

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