Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding Method
With the increasing demand for eco-friendly, non-petroleum-based natural rubber (NR) products, sepiolite, a naturally abundant, one-dimensional clay mineral, has been identified as a suitable material for reinforcing NR through the latex compounding method. To create superior NR/sepiolite composites...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/7/1620 |
| _version_ | 1797607184322789376 |
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| author | Zhanfeng Hou Dawei Zhou Qi Chen Zhenxiang Xin |
| author_facet | Zhanfeng Hou Dawei Zhou Qi Chen Zhenxiang Xin |
| author_sort | Zhanfeng Hou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the increasing demand for eco-friendly, non-petroleum-based natural rubber (NR) products, sepiolite, a naturally abundant, one-dimensional clay mineral, has been identified as a suitable material for reinforcing NR through the latex compounding method. To create superior NR/sepiolite composites, three silane coupling agents with different functional groups were used to modify sepiolite in situ via grafting or adsorption during the disaggregation and activation of natural sepiolite, which were subsequently mixed with natural rubber latex (NRL) to prepare the composites. The results showed that the modified sepiolite improved the dispersion and interfacial bonding strength with the rubber matrix. VTES-modified sepiolite containing C=C groups slightly improved the performance but retarded the vulcanization of the NR composites, and MPTES and TESPT-modified sepiolites containing -SH and −S<sub>4</sub>− groups, respectively, effectively accelerated vulcanization, inducing the composites to form a denser crosslink network structure, and exhibiting excellent dynamic and static properties, such as the modulus at a 300% increase from 8.82 MPa to 16.87 MPa, a tear strength increase from 49.6 N·mm<sup>−1</sup> to 60.3 N·mm<sup>−1</sup>, as well as an improved rolling resistance and abrasive resistance of the composites. These findings demonstrate that modified sepiolite can be used to produce high-quality NR/sepiolite composites with enhanced properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:26:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52b4a05223e24350a2f81631a7b81422 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:26:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-52b4a05223e24350a2f81631a7b814222023-11-17T17:25:04ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-03-01157162010.3390/polym15071620Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding MethodZhanfeng Hou0Dawei Zhou1Qi Chen2Zhenxiang Xin3Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, ChinaKey Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, ChinaKey Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, ChinaKey Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, ChinaWith the increasing demand for eco-friendly, non-petroleum-based natural rubber (NR) products, sepiolite, a naturally abundant, one-dimensional clay mineral, has been identified as a suitable material for reinforcing NR through the latex compounding method. To create superior NR/sepiolite composites, three silane coupling agents with different functional groups were used to modify sepiolite in situ via grafting or adsorption during the disaggregation and activation of natural sepiolite, which were subsequently mixed with natural rubber latex (NRL) to prepare the composites. The results showed that the modified sepiolite improved the dispersion and interfacial bonding strength with the rubber matrix. VTES-modified sepiolite containing C=C groups slightly improved the performance but retarded the vulcanization of the NR composites, and MPTES and TESPT-modified sepiolites containing -SH and −S<sub>4</sub>− groups, respectively, effectively accelerated vulcanization, inducing the composites to form a denser crosslink network structure, and exhibiting excellent dynamic and static properties, such as the modulus at a 300% increase from 8.82 MPa to 16.87 MPa, a tear strength increase from 49.6 N·mm<sup>−1</sup> to 60.3 N·mm<sup>−1</sup>, as well as an improved rolling resistance and abrasive resistance of the composites. These findings demonstrate that modified sepiolite can be used to produce high-quality NR/sepiolite composites with enhanced properties.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/7/1620natural rubber (NR)sepiolitesilane coupling agentcrosslink network structuredynamic and static properties |
| spellingShingle | Zhanfeng Hou Dawei Zhou Qi Chen Zhenxiang Xin Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding Method Polymers natural rubber (NR) sepiolite silane coupling agent crosslink network structure dynamic and static properties |
| title | Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding Method |
| title_full | Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding Method |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding Method |
| title_short | Effect of Different Silane Coupling Agents In-Situ Modified Sepiolite on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber Composites Prepared by Latex Compounding Method |
| title_sort | effect of different silane coupling agents in situ modified sepiolite on the structure and properties of natural rubber composites prepared by latex compounding method |
| topic | natural rubber (NR) sepiolite silane coupling agent crosslink network structure dynamic and static properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/7/1620 |
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