MONTMORILLONITE-REINFORCED NATURAL RUBBER NANOCOMPOSITES THROUGH EMULSION STABILIZATION–DESTABILIZATION METHOD

Abstract A nanoplatelet of montmorillonite (MMT) was incorporated in the natural rubber (NR) matrix at a high loading content using a newly developed stabilization–destabilization process in the colloid states. Examination of the surface charge of the colloid drops by zeta potential measurement led to the identification of the stable and unstable conditions of the colloid mixture as well as each colloid system as a function of pH. The stabilized mixture of the MMT and NR colloids was subsequently destabilized by changing the pH of the mixture to achieve a well-dispersed and intercalated NR/MMT precipitate. The resulting NR/MMT nanocomposites provided an exfoliated MMT morphology up to 25 phr, and the mechanical properties and aging tolerance of the resulting nanocomposite vulcanizates were substantially enhanced by the incorporated MMT nanofillers. The developed stabilization–destabilization methodology ensured a highly loaded MMT rubber composite system, which could be used to obtain high performance NR/...