Preparation and properties of rubber nanocomposites based on NR/NBR blend reinforced with nanosilica and carbon black

Rubber nanocomposites based on natural rubber (NR)-butadiene nitrile rubber (NBR) blend filled with silane modified nanosilica (NSBT) and carbon black (CB) were prepared by melt mixing method by using an internal mixer. The effect of CB and NSBT on thermo-mechanical properties of the materials was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile testing method. The results show that the NR/NBR blends reinforced with both CB and NSBT possess the properties much better than that reinforced with only CB or NSBT. With the CB/NSBT ratio of 25/5, the properties of the NR/NBR blends were remarkably enhanced, especially the increase in tensile strength by about 64 % and the increase in the thermal stability by about 13 degrees C. The reasons for the improvement of NR/NBR blends' properties are due to better compatibility of the components in the rubber blend as well as the better compactness in their structure with the presence of NSBT.