Rheological behavior of nanocomposites of natural rubber and carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber latices and their blends

Abstract

Abstract Flow behavior of latices is industrially important for the manufacturing of various latex goods. Rheology of latices having fillers can assist in the understanding and quantification of the matrix–filler interaction. The impact of layered silicates such as sodium bentonite and sodium fluorohectorite on the rheological behavior of natural rubber, carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber latices, and their blends was analyzed with special reference to shear rate, temperature, and filler loading. The layered silicates‐reinforced latex samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction technique to analyze the extent of intercalation and exfoliation. In the presence of layered silicates, latex systems exhibited enhancement in viscosity due to the network formation. Because of the breaking of networks at higher temperature, the viscosity of all systems decreased with increase in temperature. Layered silicates‐reinforced latex systems showed pseudoplastic flow behavior and possesses enhanced zero shear viscosity and yield stress. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2355–2362, 2006