Enhancement of Chloroprene/Natural/Butadiene Rubber Nanocomposite Properties Using Organoclays and Their Combination with Carbon Black as Fillers

• Main Authors: Patricia Castaño-Rivera, Isabel Calle-Holguín, Johanna Castaño, Gustavo Cabrera-Barjas, Karen Galvez-Garrido, Eduardo Troncoso-Ortega
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: chloroprene rubber composite; nanocomposites; organoclays; carbon black; mechanical properties; characterization
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/7/1085

Organoclay nanoparticles (Cloisite^® C10A, Cloisite^® C15) and their combination with carbon black (N330) were studied as fillers in chloroprene/natural/butadiene rubber blends to prepare nanocomposites. The effect of filler type and load on the physical mechanical properties of nanocomposites was determined and correlated with its structure, compatibility and cure properties using Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and rheometric analysis. Physical mechanical properties were improved by organoclays at 5–7 phr. Nanocomposites with organoclays exhibited a remarkable increase up to 46% in abrasion resistance. The improvement in properties was attributed to good organoclay dispersion in the rubber matrix and to the compatibility between them and the chloroprene rubber. Carbon black at a 40 phr load was not the optimal concentration to interact with organoclays. The present study confirmed that organoclays can be a reinforcing filler for high performance applications in rubber nanocomposites.