High‐performance nanocomposites based on arcylonitrile‐butadiene rubber with fillers of different particle size: Mechanical and morphological studies

Abstract Acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) nanocomposites with layered silicate (LS), calcium phosphate (CP), and titanium dioxide (TO) of different particle size were prepared in an open two‐roll mixing mill at different filler loading in presence of sulphur as vulcanizing agent. The layered silicate (LS) filled system showed outstanding enhancement in mechanical properties in comparison with nanocalcium phosphate (CP) and titanium dioxide (TO). The variations in properties can be attributed to the extent of intercalation/exfoliation, which was highly influenced by the filler size. The layered silicate filled system at 20 phr showed nearly 349% increase in tensile strength compared to pure NBR whereas an increase of 110% and 84% were shown by CP and TO filled systems respectively. The modulus enhancements were in the order of 200%, 63% and 22%, respectively compared to the unfilled system. The increase in tear resistance was in the order of 230%, 115%, and 41% respectively for the filled systems in comparison with unfilled NBR. The significant enhancements in mechanical properties were supported by the morphological analysis. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1515–1524, 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers