Effect of Halloysite Nanotubes (HNTs) on Mechanical Properties of EPDM/NBR Blend-Nanocomposites

Abstract

The nanocomposite of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was produced. On a two-roll mill, the 0–25 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of HNTs with 70/30 EPDM/NBR was mixed. The effect of HNT on the cure characteristics (scorch (tSUBS2/SUB) and optimum cure time (tSUB90/SUB), cure rate index, maximum torque, minimum torque and torque difference) and mechanical properties of the composites were studied and discussed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of tensile-fractured EPDM/NBR rubber-HNTs. Tensile strength, 100% modulus, elongation at break, tear strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, and compression set were increased whereas rebound resilience, tSUBS2/SUB, and tSUB90/SUB were decreased with increasing in the concentration of HNTs in it.