title: Mechanical properties of IIR/OMMT nanocomposites via melt-compounding and solution process.
abstract: Isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIR)/organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanocomposites were prepared by both melt-compounding and solution process. Organic modifiers were synthesized by the reaction of allyl bromide and alkyl amines to modify sodium montmorillonite (Na+ -MMT). After modification of Na+ -MMT with organic modifiers, the changes of d-spacing of OMMT were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD patterns revealed that the d-spacing of Na+ -MMT increase from 1.1 nm for Na+ -MMT to 2.18 nm for the OMMT, indicating intercalation of organic modifier into the interlayers of montmorillonites. Mechanical properties of IIR/OMMT nanocomposites were studied by means of tensile measurements. Tensile strengths of IIR/OMMT nanocomposites prepared from melt-compounding and solution process were higher than those of IIR/Na+ -MMT nanocomposites and pristine IIR. When the solution process was used, IIR/OMMT nanocomposites provided further improvement in mechanical properties, as compared to those prepared from melt-compounding, indicating the better interaction between IIR and OMMT.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Materials Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 100, Jang-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-600, Korea.
authors.forename: Jiyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mang
authors.forename: Mijeong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han