Nanocomposites were prepared from acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR), vinyl
groups containing organically modified montmorillonite and additives, such as
zinc oxide, stearic acid, and sulfur. The organically modified montmorillonites
used in these nanocomposites were prepared by ion exchange reactions of
N,N′-dimethylalkyl-(p-vinylbenzyl)-ammonium chlorides (DAVBAs,
alkyl = octyl, dodecyl, and octadecyl) with sodium montmorillonite
(Na+-MMT). NBR nanocomposites were obtained by controlling both the mixing and vulcanization
conditions, by using a Brabender mixer and hot-press process. X-ray diffraction (XRD)
analysis shows that, depending on the amount of montmorillonite that is added, both
exfoliated and intercalated nanocomposite structures are formed. The NBR/DAVBA-MMT
nanocomposites exhibit much higher mechanical properties (e.g., tensile strength, Young’s
modulus, 300% modulus, and hardness) as well as gas barrier properties as compared to
NBR Na+-MMT
or NBR composites generated from modified montmorillonites without vinyl groups.
Consistent with the results of XRD, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that
the intercalation and exfoliation structures of the nanocomposites coexist and that the
DAVBA-MMT layers are well dispersed in NBR.