Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.54, No.4, 942-948, 2014
Systematic Organophilization of Montmorillonite: The Impact Thereof on the Rheometric and Mechanical Characteristics of NBR and SBR Based Nanocomposites
Different montmorillonites either, completely hydrophilic (Mont-0), amphiphilic (Mont-25, Mont-50, and Mont-75) or completely hydrophobic (Mont-100) were used as reinforcing fillers for styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) individually to predict the influence of the different forms on the properties of the rubbers (rheometric characteristics and mechanical properties). The shifts in the glass transition temperatures after the clay insertion were determined from dynamic mechanical thermal analysis to investigate the preference and action of each form. In addition, the storage moduli were used as indications to the corresponding mechanical properties of the samples. The influences could be followed after comparing the impacts of aging conditions on the properties of rubber compositions. The obtained data may provide a platform to suggest the mechanism by which these forms can in some cases act as compatibilizers in addition to their reinforcing/plasticizing effect when employed with the physically incompatible NBR/SBR (50/50) blend, which helps to optimize the properties of nanocomposites based on these blends. The proposed mechanism of action showed good correlation with the results of the mechanical properties and x-ray diffraction investigations as well. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:942-948, 2014. (c) 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers