Effect of Nanoclay on the Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Styrene Butadiene and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber Vulcanizates

Abstract Nanocomposites based on Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) with varying acrylonitrile contents (19%, 34% and 50%, respectively) and octadecyl amine modified and unmodified Na-Montmorillonite clays were prepared. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was performed on these composites over a range of temperatures (−80 °C to +80 °C), frequencies (0.032 Hz to 32 Hz) and strains (0.001% to 10%). The results showed that there were significant changes in tan delta peak temperature and height and storage modulus with the addition of small amount (4 phr) of the modified and the unmodified fillers. These were magnified with the increase of filler loading. The tan delta peak heights decreased and the storage modulus increased in general. With increasing strain, the nanocomposites showed lowering of storage modulus, because of the breakdown of the agglomerated structures. The torage modulus increased with increasing frequency, and the modified filler loaded samples registered higher E' values compared to those of the gum rubber.