Selective dispersion of different organoclays in styrene butadiene rubber in the presence of a compatibilizer

Dual filler (organoclay and carbon black) loaded emulsion polymerized styrene butadiene rubber (E-SBR) based nanocomposites were synthesized by melt blending. Three different organically modified clays (viz. Cloisite 15A, Cloisite 20A and Cloisite 30B) were used for the present study. To disperse different organoclays selectively in the rubber matrix, oil extended carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) was used as a compatibilizer between organoclay and the nonpolar SBR. Wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis (WAXD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM) analysis of the nanocomposites revealed that the organoclays were intercalated and delaminated in the elastomer matrix in the presence of carbon black (CB). Different organoclay loaded SBR compounds show improvement in the overall properties such as curing features, mechanical, thermal, abrasion resistance and dynamic mechanical properties compared to the neat SBR. Among the three different hybrid nanocomposites, Cloisite 30B filled SBR compound in the presence of CB show superior properties.