Functionalized HNTs nanocluster vulcanized natural rubber with high filler-rubber interaction

Abstract A novel functional rubber vulcanizator, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) supported sulfur monochloride (HNTs-s-S) is prepared by chemically bonding sulfur monochloride (S 2 Cl 2 ) onto HNTs surface. Through this chemical reaction, high concentration of sulfur is supported onto HNTs inner and outer surface. Meanwhile, the functional nanotubes can not only vulcanize the rubber without sulfur and show the lower activation energy of vulcanization reaction, but also improve the filler-rubber interaction as a modifier due to the improved modification effect. Furthermore, the immobilized polymer layer and crosslinking density of rubber composites together indicate that this novel vulcanizing agent HNTs-s-S gives rise to significant improvement in the rubber-filler interfacial adhesion, which is on account of the promoted vulcanizing on the functional HNTs surface with the supported sulfur. After endowing the tubular nanofillers with vulcanized function, it may offer new scientific and technological opportunities for the preparation of high performance elastomer composites.