Radiation induced modification of NBR and SBR montmorillonite nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of two different kinds of rubber (acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber NBR and styrene butadiene rubber SBR)/organo-montmorillonite nanocomposites modified by hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide were prepared by the reactive mixing intercalation method in the presence of trimethylolpropane trimethylmethacrylate (TMPTMA). The influence of gamma irradiation on the morphology and properties of the rubber nanocomposites was investigated. Intercalated polar or unsaturated matrices (e.g., NBR and SBR)/OMMT nanocomposites can be obtained, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The clay layers could be uniformly dispersed in the rubber matrix on the nanometer level. Mechanical tests showed that the nanocomposites had good mechanical properties as compared to the neat composites. The results also showed that the irradiated NBR/OMMT nanocomposites had higher thermal stabilities than irradiated SBR/OMMT nanocomposites.