Post Graduate Research Papers 2001/2002

School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering, USM 1

Preparation and Characterization of Natural Rubber/ Organoclay

Nanocomposites
P.L. Teh, U.S. Ishiaku 1, Z.A. Mohd Ishak 1, J.Karger-Kocsis 2
1
School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus, University
of Science Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang.
2
Institute for Composite Materials (IVW), University of Kaiserlautern, Germany.

ABSTRACT (b) elastomer based organoclay

nanocomposite such as styerene
Reinforcement of polymer with nano- butadiene rubber (SBR).
sized clay particles is a promising Since NR does not have polar groups in its
technique that is capable of yielding backbone, this project will prepare
materials with enhanced performance but NR/organoclay nanocomposites by using a
without involvement in expensive functionalised natural rubber ie.
synthesis procedures. Polymer/clay epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) as a
nanocomposites are being investigated compatibilizer. The effect of organophilic
and developed worldwide by a number of nanoclays on the curing characteristics,
public, private and corporate entities. mechanical properties, and thermoxidative
Nano-sized filled composites can be ageing behaviour will be studied.
considered as the latest development in
advanced materials technology, which is MATERIALS AND METHOD
yet to be applied to natural rubber. Three
different gred of organoclay was added to Elastomer : Natural rubber (SMR L)
Natural Rubber and cured by semi- Nanofiller : Organoclay (1.30TC,
efficient vulcanization system. Then the 1.30P, 1.28E)
compounds were characterized in respect Filler : Carbon black (N330),
of their curing and mechanical Silica (vulkasil S)
properties. Compatibilizer : Epoxidized natural rubber
(ENR25, ENR50)
INTRODUCTION
Ingredient Content (phr) a
An organoclay nanocomposite is a
polymer system containing inorganic clay Natural rubber 100
b
intercalated with organic cations with one ENR 5,10
dimension in the nanometer range i.e. one
Filler c Variable
billionth of a meter. Various clays are
being used by exploiting the ability of the Sulfur 1.5
clay silicate layers to disperse into Zinc oxide 5.0
polymer to obtain nanocomposites.(1)
In nanocomposites, tremendous IPPD 2.0
improvement in mechanical properties Stearic acid 2.0
such as enhanced heat stability, abrasion MBTS 1.5
resistance, solvent resistance, reduced gas
permeability and improved flame ENR, Epoxidized natural rubber:
retardancy can be attained by optimizing IPPD, N-isopropyl-N' -phenyl-p-
molecular interactions between the phenylenediamine
reinforcing filler and matrix through MBTS, Mercaptobenzothiazoldisulfide
reduction in size of the filler particles.(2)
There are two types of a
Parts Per Hundred parts of rubber
polymer/organoclay nanocomposites: b
ENR 25, ENR 50
(a) plastic based organoclay c
Organoclay - 2,4,6,8, and 10 phr
nanocomposite such as polypropylene, Carbon black - 50 phr
polyimide, poly(methyl methacrylate) Silica - 30 phr
and epoxy.
 Post Graduate Research Papers 2001/2002
School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering, USM 2

Compounding was done by using the FIG 2: Tensile strength of compound

Brabender Plasticorder at 80°C for 7 1,2,3,4,5,and 6.
minutes. FIG 3: Elongation at break of compound
Compound cure characteristics were 1600
measured on Rheometer Monsanto MDR 1400

Elongation at Break (%)

2000, then cured by compression molding 1200
at 150°C. 1000
800
600
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
400
200
Cure Characteristic 0
1 2 3 4 5 6
Figure 1 shows the influence of filler Rubber Blends
content on the cure characteristics of 1,2,3,4,5, and 6.
NR/organoclay compounds that derived
from MDR20000 measurements.
1 - SMR L/ ENR25 (5phr)
9 2 - SMR L/ ENR25 (5phr)/ CB (50phr)
8 3 - SMR L/ ENR25 (5phr)/ Silica (30phr)
7 4 - SMR L/ ENR25 (5phr)/ 1.30TC (4 phr)
t90 (min)

6
5 - SMR L/ ENR25 (5phr)/ 1.30P (4phr)
5
6 - SMR L/ ENR25 (5phr)/ 1.28E (4phr)
4
3
2
0 2 4 6 8 10 Filler content of 4 phr have been choosen
Filler content (phr) for the comparison because the compound
1.30P 1.30TC 1.28E shows the highest tensile properties at this
level of filler loading. The organoclay
FIG 1: t90 of compounds with different nanocomposites shows higher tensile
filler content (phr). strength than carbon black (CB) and silica
filled compounds(Fig 2). The silicate
From Figure 1, it shows tipical trend for surface area in organoclay contributes a
these three types of fillers. The t90 of the better dispersion of the organoclay in
compounds was sharply decrease at 2phr natural rubber(3).
filler content then followed by a gradual
decrease upon further addition of the filler.
This is caused by the amine functionalities
in the filler after the modification process CONCLUSION
or ion exchange process.(3) The amine
containing compounds will facilitate the The t90 of the compounds was influenced
curing reaction of natural rubber stocks. by the filler content.
The organoclay could enhance the
Mechanical Properties performance of natural rubber. It could
compete with the carbon black and silica.
Figure 2 and 3 illustrates the influence of
the different type nanoclays on the tensile
properties of NR/organoclay compounds.
REFERENCES
35
Tensile Strength (MPa)

30 1. Yen T.V., James E.M., et al. (2001). J.

25 Appl. Polym. Sci., 82, 1391-1403.
20 2. Gloaguen J.M. & Lefebvre J.M.
15 (2001). Polymer, 42, 5841-5847.
10 3. A.Mousa & J. Karger-Kocsis (2001).
5 Macromol .Mater. Eng, 286, 260-266.
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
Rubber Blends 2
Post Graduate Research Papers 2001/2002
School of Materials & Mineral Resources Engineering, USM 3