nanocomposites

Characterizations of natural rubber nanocomposites filled with organoclay as a substitute for carbon black obtained by melt blending method

The aim of this study was to assess the technical feasibility of natural rubber nanocomposites with Cloisite 20A, a commercial organoclay (OC) to substitute for conventionally used carbon black as a filler. Three Rubber clay nanocomposites (RCN) were prepared while varying the content of OC (2, 4 and 8 phr - parts per hundred of rubber). For comparative purposes, a sample with 40 phr of carbon black was also prepared and analyzed. The compounds were characterized by their rheological, morphological, thermal and mechanical properties.