Mechanical and thermal performances of styrene butadiene rubber nanocomposites with boron nitride nanosheets, carbon nanotubes, and the hybrid filler system

Abstract Preparation of rubber nanocomposites using two or more nanofillers with different geometries is a new and promising approach. In this work, the effects of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS), carbon nanotubes (CNT) and their hybrid (BNNS‐CNT) on the performances of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) nanocomposites are systematically studied. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are significantly enhanced by the nanofillers. The tensile strength of unfilled SBR is only 1.30 ± 0.18 MPa, which increases to 1.72 ± 0.24 MPa (BNNS), 4.09 ± 0.35 MPa (CNT), and 3.37 ± 0.29 MPa (BNNS‐CNT) at 4 phr, respectively. Similarly, the tear strength of unfilled SBR is 8.0 kN/m, which increases to 13.8 kN/m (BNNS), 16.1 kN/m (CNT) and 18.2 kN/m (BNNS‐CNT) at 4 phr, respectively. Moreover, the thermal behavior of the nanocomposites are analyzed. Compared with single nanofiller BNNS or CNT, BNNS‐CNT hybrid nanofiller not only effectively improves the mechanical properties of nanocomposites, but also imparts better thermal properties. It is proved that the thermal decomposition temperature of SBR/4phr BNNS‐CNT is increased by nearly 7°C compared with unfilled SBR.