Morphology and dynamic mechanical properties of styrene-butadiene rubber/silica/organoclay nanocomposites manufactured by a latex method

In this study, the styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR)/N, N‐dimethyldodecylamine‐montmorillonite nanocomposite was prepared with a latex method by applying DDA to Na+‐MMT as a modifier. The dispersion of silica and the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the SBR/silica (60 phr) compound were studied by replacing 7 phr of the silica with organoclay. By the analysis of transmission electron microscopy images and the Payne effect, the dispersion of silica in the SBR/silica (53 phr)/DDA‐MMT (7 phr) compound was further improved as compared to the SBR/silica (60 phr) compound that used only silica as a filler. The Payne effect curve of the SBR/silica/DDA‐MMT compound was close to the curve of the SBR/silica (53 phr) compound. This indicates that organically modified silicate did not form filler–filler networks with silica. Also, the SBR/DDA‐MMT compound filled with silica showed the highest values of Tg and tan δ at 0°C. This result was attributed to the shift of the tan δ curve to the right because of the relatively higher degree of crosslink. Consequently, the SBR/silica/organoclay nanocomposite showed the best skid resistance due to the increase of Tg, and the best rolling resistance due to the reduced filler–filler networks. High 100% and 300% modulus values were also achieved. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013