Rubber nanocomposites polymer melts

Choudhury et al. [36] in their work on hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR)-nanoclay systems showed the thermodynamic aspects of nanocomposite formation using the mean-field-lattice-based description of polymer melt intercalation, which was first proposed by Vaia and Giannelis [37]. Briefly, the free... 

Varghese, S., Karger-Ktx sis, J. Melt-compoimded natural rubber nanocomposites with pristine and otganophilic laytaed silicates of natural and synthetic origin. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 91, 813-819 (2004)... 

Journal of Applied Polymer Science 91, No.2, 15th Jan.2004, p.813-9 MELT-COMPOUNDED NATURAL RUBBER NANOCOMPOSITES WITH PRISTINE AND ORGANOPHILIC LAYERED SILICATES OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC ORIGIN Varghese S Kaiger-Kocsis J Kaiserslautem,University... 

In this method, the nanofillers are mixed with the polymer matrix in the molten state. This method has great advantages over either in-situ intercalative polymerization or solution intercalation. First, this method is environmentally benign due to the absence of organic solvents. Second, it is compatible with current industrial processes such as extrusion and injection molding. The melt intercalation allows the use of polymers, which are not suitable for in-situ polymerization or the solution intercalation method. A wide range of silicone rubber nanocomposites have been prepared by this method [143,144]. 

Technology for preparing nanocomposites directly via compounding has been investigated by Vaia, Ishii, and Giannelis. Industrial R D efforts have focused on process technology (e.g., melt or monomer exfoliation processes), as there are a number of polymers (e.g., polyolefins) that do not lend themselves to a monomer process. Nanocomposites with a variety of polymers, including polyacrylates or methacrylates, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene rubber, epoxy, polyester, and polyurethane, are amenable to the monomer process. The enhancement of mechanical properties, gas permeability resistance, and heat endurance are the primary objectives for the application of PCN, and their success will establish PCNs as a major commercial product. 

Besides melt intercalation, described above, in situ intercalative polymerization of E-caprolactone (e-CL) has also been used [231] to prepare polycaprolactone (PCL)-based nanocomposites. The in situ intercalative polymerization, or monomer exfoliation, method was pioneered by Toyota Motor Company to create nylon-6/clay nanocomposites. The method involves in-reactor processing of e-CL and MMT, which has been ion-exchanged with the hydrochloride salt of aminolauric acid (12-aminodecanoic acid). Nanocomposite materials from polymers such as polystyrene, polyacrylates or methacrylates, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyester, polyurethane, and epoxy are amenable to the monomer approach. 

The addition of nanoparticles to synthetic rubber resulting in enhancement in thermal, stiffness and resistance to fracture is one of the most important phenomena in material science technology. The commonly used white filler in mbber industry are clay and silica. The polymer/clay nanocomposites offer enhanced thermo mechanical properties. Bourbigot et al. observed that the thermal stability of polystyrene (PS) is significandy increased in presence of nanoclay [75]. Thermal and mechanical properties of clays multiwalled carbon nanotubes reinforced ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) prepared through melt blending showed synergistic effect in properties [76]. 

An alternative method of producing natural rubber based clay reinforced nanocomposites with outstanding properties is by using a spray drying technique. In this technique the siUcate layers of clay will be well dispersed in an irradiated polymer latex and this mixture will be sprayed through hot air to produce micrometre-sized liquid droplets. When the solvent is fully evaporated, micrometre-sized polymer spheres with delaminated clay silicate layers on their surface are produced. These spheres can later be melt blended with natural rubber to produce ternary nanocomposites. It is noteworthy that exfoliation of nanofillers can still be achieved without modification of the nanofiller surface, thus the expensive modification process can be eliminated. 

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