Tube-like natural halloysite/fluoroelastomer nanocomposites with simultaneous enhanced mechanical, dynamic mechanical and thermal properties

A novel kind of fluoroelastomer nanocomposites based on tube-like halloysite clay mineral were successfully prepared using a bis-phenol curing system, which resulted in prominent improvements in mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties and in the elevation as high as 30 K of the thermal decomposition temperature. Wide-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques were employed to assess the morphology developed in the nanocomposites, while stress strain diagrams were used to evaluate the mechanical properties. These nanocomposites were further characterized by moving die rheometer, dynamic mechanical properties and thermo-gravimetric analysis. Structure-properties relationship and the improvement of the mechanical, dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of fluoroelastomers are reported in the present study. Increasing amount of the filler reduced the curing efficiency of the bis-phenol curing system, which was evident from the rheometric and physical properties of the resulting composites. A sort of filler–filler interaction was perceived during the strain sweep analysis of the composites. The polymer–filler interaction was reflected in the improved mechanical and thermal properties which were the consequence of proper dispersion of the nanotubes in the polymer matrix; whereas the intercalation of macromolecular chains into the nanotubes was not reflected in the X-ray diffraction analysis.