1 STRUCTURES AND PROPERTIES OF NATURAL RUBBER/ORGANOCLAY NANOCOMPOSITES

Natural rubber (NR), 30 % epoxidized natural rubber (ENR30) and organoclays (Nanomer I28E and I30E) are blended in Brabender. Dispersions of the organoclay in NR are investigated by X – ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed the efficiency of dispersion is increased by the addition ENR30 as a compatibilizer. The existence of Nanomer I28E reduces the vulcanization time, while torque value increases slightly and mechanical properties (abrasion resistance, modulus M100, modulus M300, tensile strength, tear strength) are improved considerably. 1. INTRODUCTION. Properties of clay/rubber nanocomposite depend much more on structures of nanoclay in rubber matrix. They may be intercalation, exfoliation or disordered structures or a mixture of them. In general, in natural-clay filled polymers with favorable thermodynamics fo