Nanoclay modified with nonionic surfactants as reinforcement for styrene–butadiene rubber

In this study, the preparation of organobentonite using nonionic surfactants has been investigated. The organophilic clay has been characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The X-ray results suggest that the inter-gallery spacing of pristine clay increases with the incorporation of the surfactant where the nonionic surfactants intercalate into the interlamellar space of bentonite. The nanocomposites of SBR with various amounts of organoclay were prepared through the two roll mill. The X-ray diffraction peak observed for the modified clay also disappears in the rubber nanocomposites at low loading indicating exfoliation. Excellent improvement in mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, elongation at break and hardness, are observed on incorporation of the nanoclay. The results could be explained with the help of morphology, dispersion of the nanofiller and its interaction with the rubber. The formation of the intercalated nanocomposites was also indicated by scanning electron microscopy, used to study the surface morphology, which showed that the distribution of the organoclay in the polymer matrix was homogeneous. Thermal gravimetric analysis is also examined and the outcome of these results is discussed in this paper.