Abstract
A novel method is described for the preparation of nanocomposites comprising a high performance rubber for tire application and layered silicates clay. In this work nanocomposites of solution‐styrene butadiene rubber (S‐SBR) with montmorillonite layered silicate were prepared with carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR), a polar rubber, as a compatibilizer. A sufficient amount of organomodified layered silicate was loaded in carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) and this compound was blended as a master batch in the S‐SBR. Mixed intercalated/exfoliated morphologies in the nanocomposite are evinced by X‐ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy. Dynamic mechanical analysis also supports the compatibility of the composites. A good dispersion of the layered silicate in the S‐SBR matrix was reflected from the physical properties of the nanocomposites, especially in terms of tensile strength and high elongation properties.
Acknowledgements
This work has been supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF Grant 03X0002).