Halloysite Nanotubes Effect on Cure and Mechanical Properties of EPDM/NBR Nanocomposites

Rubber blend of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) (50/50) has been incorporated with increasing contents, up to 10 parts per hundred rubber (phr), of reinforcing nano-filler, namely, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs). Mechanical properties, namely, tensile strength, hardness, stress at 100% elongation (100% modulus), tear strength, abrasion resistance, elongation at break, and rebound resilience have been carried out as a function of the degree of incorporation with nano-filler. Similarly, swelling resistance in terms of mole percent uptake as a physical property of rubber compounds, as a function of the degree of loading with nano-filler, penetrants size, and temperature, however, in aromatic, aliphatic, and chlorinated solvents has been undertaken. The FESEM of the tensile fractured composites was also investigated. The tensile properties and abrasion resistance improved until optimum content of HNTs (6 phr) and hardness, tear strength, and swelling resistance increased with increasing HNTs loading.