Effect of Nanoclay and Its Hybrid with Carbon Black on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Styrene Butadiene Rubber

In this study, the effect of adding nanoclay and carbon black to SBR on curing behavior, oil absorption and mechanical properties such as tensile strength and strain at break, hardness and abrasion resistance were investigated. At the end, we investigated the effect of carbon black (CB) and replacement a portion of CB with modified clay on tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness and abrasion resistance of SBR. Tensile strength and elongation at break were significantly improved upon addition of nanoclay and the optimum amount of nanoclay was 10 phr. The rheometric test indicated that as the nanoparticles loading increases, the scorch time and optimum cure time decrease and the cure rate increases. Adding nanoparticles to the polymer matrix improved the abrasion resistance and the abrasive volume of the samples decreased significantly with addition of nanoclay content. Adding 10 phr nanoclay to SBR containing 20 phr carbon black elongation at break and tensile strength exhibited a siginificant increase of 300% and 3 MPa respectively indicationg synergisty of carbon black and nanoclay in improving mechanical properties of SBR. Upon replacement of 10 phr CB with clay tensile strength, elongation at break and hardness improved 30%, 24% and 5% respectively and oil absorption and abrasive volume decreases 23% and 11% respectively.