The relations between the micro-structure and properties of rubber/clay nanocomposites

isobutylene-isoprene RCN (IIRCN)

styrene-butadiene RCN (SBRCN)

and nitrile-butadiene RCN (NBRCN) were investigated.Some interesting problems were studied with respect to the influence imposed by vulcanization on the micro-structure and corresponding mechanisms in different polarity environment of RCNs

the different micro-structure between RCNs of a high content of clay based on different polarized rubber matrices

and the influence imposed by different polarities of the rubber matrices on the mechanical properties and gas barrier property of RCNs

especially for RCNs with a high clay content.Certain conclusions were made from these experiments.The polarity of rubber matrix had certain influence on both the short range and the remote range micro-structures of RCNs

but the final results were not definitely consistent for different rubber matrices.In other words

the silicate layers in the RCNs were integrated in the remote range in the process of vulcanization because of the high pressure

but the short range micro-structure changed according to the properties of the rubber matrix.The micro-structures of the high clay content RCNs were decided by the properties of the matrix.The experimental results showed that the mechanical and gas barrier properties of RCNs increased with increasing amount of filled clay.The mechanical properties of RCNs were mainly decided by the remote micro-structures

while the gas barrier properties of RCNs was influenced by both the remote range and the short range micro-structures according to the clay content in the RCNs.The gas barrier properties of NBRCNs decreased slowly at a small filling clay amount and were determined by short range micro-structures at a high filling clay amount.