CaCO3/natural rubber latex nanometer composite and its properties

Calcium carbonate/natural rubber (NR) latex nanometer composites were prepared by adding nanometer CaCO3 whose surface had been treated to natural rubber latex (NRL) before sulfuration. The physical, thermooxidative aging, and thermal degradation properties and the ultra-microstructure were analyzed with a multipurpose material testing meter, a thermal analysis meter and a Philips XL-30 SEM, respectively. The results showed that the structures and properties of nanometer composites could be clearly improved by NRL mixed with surface-treated nano-meter CaCO3. The physical properties of the nanometer composites were best when the content of surface treatment agent was 2.5% (to nanometer CaCO3), the nanometer CaCO3/NRL content was 3:100, and the stirring time for treating the surface of the nanometer CaCO3 was 20 min. Simultaneously, the thermooxidative aging resistance of the nanometer composites also was significantly improved. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.