Structure and Properties of the Organoclay Filled NR/BR Nanocomposites

Organoclay, was applied as a filler, in place of carbon black and silica, to a natural rubber (NR)/butadiene rubber (BR) blend. A compounding method was used to disperse and separate the layered silicates. The effect of a coupling agent on the vulcanizates was evaluated using both the silica and organoclay filled compounds. After the compounding processes were completed, the XRD diffraction peaks disappeared, but then reappeared after vulcanization. The scorch times for the organoclay-filled compounds were very short compared to those for carbon black and silica-filled compounds. The organoclay-filled compounds showed high values of tensile strength, modulus, tear energy, and elongation at the break. When ranked by viscosity, the compounds appeared in the following order: silica > silica (Si-69) > organoclay > organoclay (Si-69) > carbon black. Fractional hysteresis, tensile set, and wear rates were very consistent with the viscosity of the vulcanizates. The Si 69 coupling agent increased reversion resistance, the maximum torque values in the ODR, modulus, and wear resistance, but decreased elongation at the break, fractional hysteresis, and tension set of the vulcanizates.