Radiation-Cured Nanocomposites Based on Diene Rubber and Nanoclay

Abstract

SBR/BR-based rubber nanocomposites filled with carbon black (65 phr) and nanoclay (1 and 3 phr) were radiation-cured at 100, 200, 389 and 800 kGy from a ⁶⁰Co γ radiation source and tested against a reference compound without nanoclay. For reference the same compounds where also sulfur cured. The nanoclay consisted of a layered silicate, a montmorillonite, treated with an alkylammonium salt. The nanoclay was added on top to a conventional carbon black-filled rubber compound during the first masterbatch preparation.

The spectacular reinforcement effect derived from the nanoclay addition to the composite has been observed both in the radiation-cured compounds and in the sulfur-cured compound. Although the sulfur-cured composite show a reduction in hysteresis after the nanoclay addition, the radiation-cured compounds show an opposite trend.