sandip rooj

Rubber composites based on halloysite nanotubes (HNT) have attracted tremendous attention during the last decades owing to the improved mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal properties [1–3]. Before exploring the various aspects of HNT/rubber composite
systems, we first briefly describe the HNT. It was first introduced by Berthier long back in the year of 1826 [4]. HNTs are a type of naturally occurring silicates with rolled nanotubular or spiral morphology, which have an analogous chemical structure of kaolinite [5]. They are ...

We describe a nanocomposite based on solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR) and naturally occurring tube-like nanoparticles called halloysite nanotubes (HNT). Highly hydrophilic HNT nanotubes were modified by different silane coupling agents namely diethoxydimethyl silane (DMS) and bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)­propyl]tetrasulfide (TESPT) to ensure good dispersion of these nanoparticles in the hydrophobic SSBR matrix. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the functional groups on the surface of the HNT after the silane modification. Contact angle measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were also carried out to understand the extent of modification. The reinforcing effect of modified HNT in SSBR matrix was perceived from both static and dynamic mechanical properties. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the modified HNT filled SSBR nanocomposites are found to be much higher than that of pristine HNT (pHNT) filled nanocomposites. In addition, transmission electron microscopic analysis unveiled the fact that, owing to more rubber-filler interaction modified HNT dispersed in a very fine state as compared with pHNT.

A simple and facile method for depositing multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto the surface of naturally occurring short jute fibers (JFs) is reported. Hierarchical multi-scale structures were formed with CNT-networks uniformly distributed and fully covering the JFs (JF–CNT), as depicted by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The impact of these hybrid fillers on the mechanical properties of a natural rubber (NR) matrix was systematically investigated. Pristine JFs were cut initially to an average length of 2.0 ...

In this study, organo-montmorillonite (OMt) was treated with long alkyl chain containing docosanoic acid in order to obtain expanded organo-montmorillonite (EOMt) with increased interlayer distance. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the widening of the interlayer space of clay after intercalation of long alkyl chain docosanoic acid. The role of EOMt nanoparticles on the microstructure and fracture mechanical behavior of carbon black (CB) filled natural rubber (NR) composites was investigated. The microstructure of these clay filled NR/CB composites were revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Tear Fatigue Analysis (TFA) tests were carried out using pure-shear test specimen under cyclic conditions to explicate the crack growth behavior of CB filled NR in the presence of EOMt. A significant reduction in crack growth rate was noticed in the presence of only 5 phr of EOMt. The viscoelastic properties obtained from the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) for different CB filled NR–clay composites were utilized to estimate the tearing energy qualitatively using the ‘Persson–Brener’ equation. The reinforcement of rubber matrix was investigated by both the static and dynamic mechanical properties. A synergy in reinforcement between clay nanoparticles and CB was attested by the marked enhancement in both mechanical properties.