International Polymer Processing | 2021
The Effect of Silica Nanofiller on the Physical and Thermal Characteristics of Rubber-Based Composites
Abstract
Abstract The use of nano composites in elastomer blends gives outstanding mechanical properties compared to the use of micro and macro composites, even with very low nano filler content. In this paper, we studied the influence of varying proportions of natural rubber (NR) and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) reinforced with nano silica on the mechanical and thermal characteristics of the rubber. Mechanical characterizations were carried out with hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, modulus and toughness. For thermal analyses, we used differential scanning calorimetry ( DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). In most cases, the increase in the percentage of NBR with the presence of nano silica enhances hardness, modulus and toughness, however, it reduces tensile strength, tear strength and elongation at break. It was found that nano silica has a catalytic effect on the mixture, and NBR has a catalytic effect on the decomposition of NR.