Natural Rubber and Rubber Blend Nanocomposites

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) is representative biomass polymer and the effective uses are strongly contributed to sustainable society. This chapter presents the innovative and advanced rubber nanocomposites with polystyrene-encapsulated silica nanohybrids (PS-nSiO2) subsequently used as a nanofiller for NR and NR/styrene butadiene rubber (NR/SBR). The PS-nSiO2 were prepared via ‘in situ' differential microemulsion polymerization. The core-shell nanohybrids of PS-nSiO2 were achieved with an average diameter of 40 nm using a smaller amount of surfactant, compared to microemulsion polymerization method. Moreover, the effects of the NR and NR/SBR filled with PS-nSiO2 nanohybrids on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, flammability and morphology are also discussed. The results indicated that the encapsulation of nSiO2 with PS can provide not only the well-dispersion of nanoparticles in the rubber matrix but also the synergistic properties of two components from the polymer and the inorganic nanoparticles by improving mechanical properties, thermal stability and flammability of rubber nanocomposites.