Intercalated montmorillonites as fillers for acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber

Modified montmorillonite was used as filler for NBR. The effect of the montmorillonite structure and its concentration was studied. The composites were prepared with the use of a laboratory two-roll mill. Unmodified montmorillonite (MM_Na) agglomerated in NBR rubber resulting only in small enhancement of mechanical properties. The most effective exfoliation of the montmorillonite was observed for the modifier with two long chains (dihydrotallowdimethylammonium chloride (2M2HT)) and at its higher concentration (0). The modified filler did not agglomerate in NBR. The montmorillonite (MM 2M2HT(C1)) formed a secondary filler network. This very well dispersed network demonstrated the strong reinforcement. Increasing the content of MM_2M2HT(C1) to 20 parts by wt. improved significantly the tensile strength of NBR vulcanizates (tensile strength > 25 MPa). Montmorillonite intercalated with hydrotallowdimethylbenzylammonium chloride (MM_2MBHT) did not improve the properties of the studied materials.