Natural Rubber Nanocomposites Reinforced with Layered Silicates, From Past to Present: A Review on Vulcanization Characteristics

Improving the performance of polymer products has always been considered by the researchers and manufacturers. By introducing nanotechnology to the polymer science, improving the properties and performance of polymer products such as plastics, rubbers and other types of polymeric products was intensified, and the use of nanoparticles for enhancing the mechanical performance of the rubbers has received more attention. But despite of many researches in the field of polymer nanocomposites in the past two decades, rubber nanocomposites are being investigated and not yet useable in the process. This article examines the use of nanolayered silicates such as montmorillonite, bentonite, rectorite, vermiculite and kaolin in natural rubber nanocomposites. For this matter, in addition to introducing the different processing methods for preparation of rubber nanocomposites, the vulcanization characteristics of these nanocomposites is studied and compared with that of microcomposites containing carbon black and silica.