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Melt‐compounded butadiene rubber nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties and abrasion resistance
Author(s) -
Kim MinSu,
Kim DongWoo,
Ray Chowdhury Subhendu,
Kim GueHyun
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.23738
Subject(s) - organoclay , materials science , vulcanization , natural rubber , composite material , tear resistance , nanocomposite , polypropylene , compounding , polybutadiene , abrasion (mechanical) , ultimate tensile strength , polymer , polyethylene , compression set , elastomer , copolymer
Abstract Hydrophobic polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene are very difficult to use for preparing nanocomposites without a compatibilizer. However, in this study, polybutadiene rubber (BR; a hydrophobic polymer) nanocomposites were produced successfully without a compatibilizer with a melt‐compounding method. Transmission electron microscopy showed an intercalated and exfoliated clay morphology in the polymer matrix, which led to increased mechanical properties. The tensile and tear strengths of the BR/Cloisite 20A hybrids were 4.4 times and 2 times larger than that of BR, respectively. The rebound resilience, compression set, and abrasion resistance were also improved by the addition of organoclay. The abrasion resistance of BR/Cloisite 20A was approximately 2 times larger than that of BR. The cure time ( t 90 ), scorch time ( t 2 ), and their difference ( t 90 − t 2 ) of the BR/organoclay hybrids were much reduced than those of BR. Thus, organoclays behaved as good fillers and effective accelerant agents for BR vulcanization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 2062–2066, 2006