Macroporous rubber gels as reusable sorbents for the removal of oil from surface waters

Macroporous organogels were prepared by solution crosslinking various rubbers in benzene at ?18 °C. Butyl rubber (PIB), cis-polybutadiene (CBR) and styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) were used as the rubber components, while sulfur monochloride was the crosslinker in the gel preparation. The organogel networks consist of large pores of 10¹–10² μm in size caused by the benzene crystals acting as a template during gelation. The networks formed by CBR and SBR showed an aligned porous structure consisting of regular pores, whereas those derived from PIB had irregular pores with a broad pore size distribution due to the phase separation of PIB chains at low temperatures. All organogels were very tough and could be completely compressed without any crack development. Sorption tests showed that the organogels were efficient at removing crude oil, gasoline, diesel, fuel oil and olive oil. The organogels are reusable once they are squeezed, leading to continuous sorption capacities of CBR or SBR gels for crude oil and olive oil of 33–38 g/g and 24–27 g/g, respectively. These sorption capacities are two to three times the capacity of the gels derived from PIB.     

Swelling–deswelling kinetics of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels formed in PEG solutions

A series of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogels was prepared by free‐radical crosslinking copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (BAAm) in aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene glycol) of molecular weight 300 g/mol (PEG). The amount of PEG in the polymerization solvent, the crosslinker (BAAm) content, and the gel preparation temperature (T_prep) were varied in the gelation experiments. The hydrogels were characterized by the equilibrium swelling and elasticity tests as well as by the measurements of the deswelling–reswelling kinetics of the hydrogels in response to a temperature change between 25 and 48°C. The rate of deswelling of the swollen gel increases while the rate of reswelling of the collapsed gel decreases as the amount of PEG in the polymerization solvent is increased or as the crosslinker content is decreased. The T_prep effect on the swelling kinetics of the hydrogels was only observed if the PEG content of the polymerization solvent is less than 20%, which is explained with the screening of H‐bonding interactions in concentrated PEG solution. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 37–44, 2006     

Interfacial adhesion in sisal fiber/SBR composites: an investigation by the restricted equilibrium swelling technique

Short sisal fiber-reinforced styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) composites were prepared and characterized by the restricted solvent swelling technique. The solvent swelling characteristics of SBR composites containing untreated and bonding agent-added mixes were investigated in a series of aromatic solvents, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene. The diffusion experiments were conducted by the sorption gravimetric method. The adhesion between the rubber and short sisal fibers was evaluated from the restricted equilibrium swelling measurements. The anisotropy of swelling of the composite was confirmed by this study. The effect of fiber orientation in controlling the anisotropy of restricted swelling was also demonstrated. As the fiber content increased, the solvent uptake decreased, due to the increased hindrance and good fiber-rubber interactions. Bonding agent-added mixes showed enhanced restriction to swelling, due to the strong interfacial adhesion. The bonding system containing hexa-resorcinol in the mix produces an in-situ resin, which binds the fiber and the rubber matrix firmly. In addition, as the penetrant size increases from benzene to xylene, the uptake decreases. The swelling index values of the composites support this observation. Due to the improved adhesion between the short sisal fiber and SBR, the ratio of the volume fraction of rubber in the dry composite sample to the swollen sample (V _T) decreases. The extent of fiber orientation of the composites was also analysed from the restricted swelling method. SEM studies of the composite revealed the orientation of short fibers. The sorption data support the Fickian diffusion trend, which is typical in the case of cross-linked rubbers.     

Tough organogels based on polyisobutylene with aligned porous structures

Macroporous gels with aligned porous structures were prepared by solution crosslinking of butyl rubber (PIB) in cyclohexane at subzero temperatures. Sulfur monochloride was used as a crosslinker in the organogel preparation. The reactions were carried out at various temperatures between 20 and −22 °C as well as at various freezing rates. The structure of the gel networks formed at −2 °C consists of pores of about 100 μm in length and 50 μm in width, separated by polymer domains of 10-20 μm in thickness. The aligned porous structure of PIB gels indicates directional freezing of the solvent crystals in the direction of the temperature gradient. The size of the pores in the organogels could be regulated by changing the freezing rate of the reaction solution. The results suggest that frozen cyclohexane templates are responsible for the porosity formation in cyclohexane. In contrast to the regular morphology of the gels formed in cyclohexane, benzene as a crosslinking solvent produces irregular pores with a broad size distribution from micrometer to millimeter sizes due to the phase separation of PIB chains at low temperatures. Macroporous organogels prepared at subzero temperatures are very tough and can be compressed up to about 100% strain without any crack development. The gels also exhibit superfast swelling and deswelling properties as well as reversible swelling-deswelling cycles in toluene and methanol, respectively.     

Preparation of macroporous poly(acrylamide) hydrogels in DMSO/water mixture at subzero temperatures

The copolymerization reactions of acrylamide and N,N’-methylenebis(acrylamide) were carried out in DMSO/water mixture (1:1 by volume) at various temperatures T_prep between -18 and 22 °C. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the networks revealed the presence of porous morphologies. All the network samples formed at or below 0 °C have relatively small pores with sizes about 10⁰ μm. In this range of T_prep, the pore size only slightly increases with the temperature. As the temperature is increased above 0 °C, both the average pore size and the degree of polydispersity of the pores rapidly increase. Between T_prep=0 and 13 °C, the microstructure gradually changes from networks having relatively small pores to those exhibiting regular assembly of polyhedral large pores of about 10¹ μm in sizes. The formation of the porous structure at or below 0 °C is as a result of the cooling-induced phase separation mechanism, while the large polyhedral pores in the networks prepared at higher temperatures form during the freeze-dry process of the hydrogels after preparation.     

Macroporous poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) networks

Summary Effects of the gel preparation temperature T _prep and the initial monomer concentration c on the swelling and the porosity properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) networks are described. PNIPA networks were prepared by free-radical crosslinking copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide and N,N'-methylene(bis)acrylamide (BAAm) in aqueous solutions. The crosslinker (BAAm) concentration in the initial monomer mixture was kept constant at 30 wt %. It was shown that macroporous PNIPA networks with a stable porous structure can be prepared at T _prep = 22.5°C and at an initial monomer concentration c > 5 w/v %. The PNIPA networks contain pores of about 0.1 μm in radius, corresponding to the interstices between the microspheres. The experimental data also show collapse of the porous structure in PNIPA networks formed at higher temperatures. Received: 30 January 2002 / Revised version: 16 May 2002 / Accepted: 1 June 2002     

Dependence of shrinking kinetics of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels on preparation temperature

Preparation temperature dependence of equilibrium swelling degree and shrinking kinetics of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel has been investigated by optical microscopic measurements. The degree of swelling, d/d₀, at 20 °C was found to be strongly dependent on the preparation temperature, T_prep, where d and d₀ are the diameter of gel during observation and preparation, respectively. The value of d/d₀ was about 1.2 for T_prep=20 °C, but steeply increased by approaching the phase separation temperature ≈32.0 °C. Above 32.0 °C, d/d₀ decreases stepwise to 1.46. This upturn in d/d₀ was correlated with spatial inhomogeneities in gels. That is, the gel became opaque by increasing T_prep. Though the shrinking half-time, t_1/2, of gel was on the order of 500 min for T_prep≤20 °C, t_1/2 decreased to 2 min for T_prep≥26 °C. Hence, a rapid shrinking was attained by simply increasing T_prep. The physical implication of this rapid shrinking in gels was discussed in conjunction with the gel inhomogeneities and a thermodynamic theory of swelling equilibrium.     

Effect of porosigen and hydrophobic monomer on the fast swelling–deswelling behaviors for the porous thermoreversible copolymeric hydrogels

A series of porous thermoreversible copolymeric hydrogels were prepared from N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and hydrophobic monomers such as 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5‐octafluoropentyl methacrylate (OFPMA) and n‐butyl methacrylate (BMA) and CaCO₃ or poly(ethylene glycol) 8000 (PEG8000) as porosigen by emulsion polymerization. The effect of hydrophobic monomers and porosigens on the fundamental properties, such as equilibrium swelling ratio, swelling kinetics, gel strength, crosslinked densities, etc., and fast swelling–deswelling behavior for the present copolymeric hydrogels were investigated. Results showed that the deswelling rates for the gels porosigened by CaCO₃ were more rapid than those gels foamed by PEG8000. Results also showed that the swelling rates for the gel foamed by CaCO₃ were higher than those for the gel foamed by PEG8000. At the same time, results also showed that the gels with OFPMA foamed by CaCO₃ exhibit a faster swelling–deswelling behavior than those gels with BMA. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 3152–3160, 2006     

High styrene–rubber ionomers,an alternative to thermoplastic elastomers

High styrene rubber ionomers were prepared by sulfonating styrene–butadiene rubber of high styrene content (high styrene rubber) in 1,2‐dichloroethane using acetyl sulfate reagent, followed by neutralization of the precursor acids using methanolic zinc acetate. The ionomers were characterized using X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and also by the evaluation of mechanical properties. The FTIR studies of the ionomer reveal that the sulfonate groups are attached to the benzene ring. The NMR spectra give credence to this observation. Results of DMA show an ionic transition (T_i) in addition to glass–rubber transition (T_g). Incorporation of ionic groups results in improved mechanical properties as well as retention of properties after three cycles of processing. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 2294–2300, 2002     

Synthesis and characterization of 3‐benzothiazolthio‐1‐propyltriethoxylsilane and its reinforcement for styrene–butadiene rubber/silica composites

A novel block mercaptosilane (3‐benzothiazolthio‐1‐propyltriethoxylsilane) (Silane‐M) was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, and elemental analysis. Styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR)/silica composites were prepared with Silane‐M, and its effect on the properties of materials was studied. Results show that Silane‐M can substantially improve the dispersion of silica and strengthen the reinforcement of silica for SBR vulcanizates like anchors of silica to rubber matrix. As expected, it enhances the tensile, tear strength, dynamic compression property, and resistance to abrasion of SBR/silica composites. By adding Silane‐M into the system, SBR/silica composites get superior skid resistance and high glass transition temperature (T_g). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Superfast responsive ionic hydrogels with controllable pore size

A series of strong polyelectrolyte hydrogels was prepared from the sodium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as the monomer and N,N′-methylene(bis)acrylamide (BAAm) as a crosslinker in aqueous solutions. The gel preparation temperature (T_prep) was varied between −22 and 25 °C. It was found that the swelling properties and the elastic behavior of the hydrogels drastically change at T_prep=−8 °C. The hydrogels prepared below −8 °C exhibit a discontinuous morphology consisting of polyhedral pores of sizes 30-50 μm, while those formed at higher temperatures have a non-porous structure. The pore size of the networks increased by decreasing the charge density of the hydrogels, while addition of low molecular weight salts into the gelation system reduced the size of the pores. Calculations based on the equilibrium between the ice and unfrozen gel phases in the reaction system at low temperatures explain the results of observations. It was also shown that the hydrogels formed below −8 °C exhibit superfast swelling properties as well as reversible swelling-deswelling cycles in water and acetone.     

Homogeneous Styrene Butadiene/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber Blends

The graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto butadiene rubber (BR) was carried out in toluene at 80°C, using dibenzoyl-peroxide (BPO) as initiator. The synthesized poly acrylonitrile-grafted-butadiene rubber (AN-g-BR) was characterized by N% elemental analysis and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Styrene butadiene rubber/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (SBR/NBR) blends were prepared with different blend ratios in presence and absence of AN-g-BR, where the homogeneity of such blends were examined with intrinsic viscosity (η) measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The scanning electron micrographs illustrate disappearance of the macro-scale phase separation of SBR/NBR rubber blend as a result of the incorporation of AN-g-BR into that blend. Viscosity measurements confirm homogeneity of that blend. Differential Scanning Calorimetry traces exhibit shifts in glass transition temperatures (T _g's) of SBR and NBR in their blend, indicating some degree of homogeneity. Physico-mechanical properties of the rubber blend vulcanizates with different blend ratios, in presence and absence of AN-g-BR, were investigated before and after accelerated thermal aging. The SBR/NBR (25/75) homogeneous blend possessed the best physico-mechanical properties after thermal aging, together with the best swelling behavior in motor oil. The physico-mechanical properties of SBR/NBR (25/75) filled blend with different types of inorganic fillers during thermal aging were studied.     

Characterization and transport properties of ceramic filler incorporated natural rubber composites

Crystalline glass–ceramic fillers were prepared from calcium carbonate, silica, alumina, and calcium fluoride by heating and subsequent quenching in cold water. The fillers were incorporated into natural rubber (1,4-cis-polyisoprene) and the filled rubber composites were crosslinked with sulfur in the presence of different rubber additives. The unfilled and filled rubber composites were characterized. The transport properties of benzene, toluene, and p-xylene (BTX) through the rubber composites were studied in terms of sorption, diffusion, permeation, and mass transfer coefficients. The effect of the ceramic fillers on the mechanical, thermal and transport properties were studied. The sorption data at different temperatures were used for calculating activation energy of diffusion, permeation, free energy, and enthalpy of sorption. The BTX remained in the liquid state within the composite matrix as evident from negative ΔS. The diffusion coefficient (D) and mass transfer coefficient (k_mtc) of BTX decreased with the increase in filler loading. Accordingly, for the transport of BTX the unfilled rubber showed a D (D × 10⁷ cm²/s) and mass transfer coefficient (k_mtc × 10⁴ cm/s) of 5.67/3.97/2.96 and 7.71/7.08/7.04, respectively which decreased to 5.06/2.95/2.57 and 7.53/6.95/6.90, respectively for the composite containing 50 wt.% ceramic filler.     

Oil absorbents based on styrene–butadiene rubber

Four oil absorbents based on styrene–butadiene (SBR)—pure SBR (PS), 4‐tert‐butylstyrene–SBR (PBS), EPDM–SBR network (PES), and 4‐tert‐butylstyrene‐EPDM‐SBR (PBES)—were produced from crosslinking polymerization of uncured styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), 4‐tert‐butylstyrene (tBS), and ethylene–propylene–diene terpolymer (EPDM). The reaction took place in toluene using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. Uncured SBR was used as both a prepolymer and a crosslink agent in this work, and the crosslinked polymer was identified by IR spectroscopy. The oil absorbency of the crosslinked polymer was evaluated with ASTM method F726‐81. The order of maximum oil absorbency was PBES > PBS > PES > PS. The maximum values of oil absorbency of PBES and PBS were 74.0 and 69.5 g/g, respectively. Gel fractions and swelling kinetic constants, however, had opposite sequences. The swelling kinetic constant of PS evaluated by an experimental equation was 49.97 × 10^?2 h^?1. The gel strength parameter, S, the relaxation exponent, n, and the fractal dimension, d_f, of the crosslinked polymer at the pseudo‐critical gel state were determined from oscillatory shear measurements by a dynamic rheometer. The morphologies and light resistance properties of the crosslinked polymers were observed, respectively, with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a color difference meter.     

Effect of precured degrees on morphology,thermal, and mechanical properties of BR/SBR/NR foams

The ternary composites of 1,4‐cis polybutadiene rubbers (BR), styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), and natural rubber (NR) foams containing chemical blowing agents Oxybis (benzene sulfonyl) hydrazide (OBSH) were prepared by two‐stage compression molding technique with various precured degrees. Foam force rheometer indicated that the cure rate was match with foaming rate at precured degree of 30%, which the time of the maximum foaming rate was earlier only 14 s than that of the maximum cure rate. SEM presented that the number of cell was denser at precured degree of 30% than those with other precured degrees. The average cell size declined, cell wall thickness became thicker, and cell distribution became narrower just as precured degree was increasing. The results of crosslinking density was measured by equilibrium swelling technique in good agreement with that of magnetism resonance crosslinking density spectrometer measurement, which crosslinking density was increased as precured degrees increased. Differential scanning calorimeter showed that each curve exhibits two steps in heat capacity for BR/SBR/NR foams. With further increase of precured degrees, the two groups of T_gs were all shift to the higher temperature, and the area of the melting peak decreased gradually between −20°C and −40°C. TGA results demonstrated that BR/SBR/NR foams with various precured degrees obtained better thermal stability than those of non‐precured foams. The high density of polymeric foams exhibits the high mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear strength, and elongation at break. The inflection points of density, cell density, and hardness were all appeared at precured degree of 30%. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:849–859, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of shear stress and subcritical water on devulcanization of styrene–butadiene rubber based ground tire rubber in a twin‐screw extruder

The devulcanization reaction of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) based ground tire rubber (GTR) in GTR/ethylene–propylene–diene monomer rubber (EPDM) blend was investigated through a compound‐induced reaction by increasing screw rotation speed and being in the presence of subcritical water. The effects of temperature, pressure, screw rotation speed, or promoting agents on the gel content, Mooney viscosity, and Fourier transform infrared spectra of the sol of the devulcanized blends (devulcanized ground tire rubber (DGTR)/EPDM) were measured, and the mechanical properties and microstructures of the revulcanized blend ((DGTR/EPDM)/SBR) were characterized. The results show that subcritical water as a swelling agent and reaction medium promotes the devulcanization reaction, increases the selectivity of the crosslink breakage, keeps the extrusion material from oxidative degradation, reduces the gel particle size of the devulcanized blends, and significantly improves the mechanical properties of the revulcanized SBR/(DGTR/EPDM) blends. In subcritical water, the suitable promoting agents (alkylphenol polysulfide 450, hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂, or 450/H₂O₂) accelerate the devulcanization reaction, keep the double bond content, and lead to further decrease of the gel content and Mooney viscosity of the devulcanized blends and further increase of the mechanical properties of the revulcanized SBR/(DGTR/EPDM) blends. Especially the compound promoting agent (450/H₂O₂) improves the selectivity of the crosslink breakage in devulcanization of SBR‐based GTR. When 450/H₂O₂ is added as a compound promoting agent at the best reaction condition in subcritical water (200°C, 1.6 MPa and 1000 rpm), the tensile strength and elongation at break of the revulcanized SBR/(DGTR/EPDM) blends reach to 85.4% and 201% of vulcanized SBR (24.0 MPa, 356%), respectively. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1845–1854, 2013     

Surface patch binding‐induced exfoliation of nanoclays and enhancement of physical properties of gelatin organogels

Nanoclay‐containing organogels were prepared by exfoliating layered silicate nanoclay (Laponite^® and montmorillonite, aspect ratio 30 and 250) in organogels made in glycerol solutions. Zeta potential of the binding profile between clay and gelatin chains in the milieu of glycerol was consistent with a surface patch binding mechanism. To achieve customized thermal and viscoelastic properties, optimum binding of nanoclay to gelatin was probed, and it was noticed that [clay] = 0.03% (w/v) and [glycerol] = 30% (v/v) produced the best results. Gelation temperature T_gel (Laponite organogels) increased from 28 to 34 °C (ca 21% change) with a concomitant increase in gel elastic modulus from 400 to 1200 Pa (ca 300% change). For montmorillonite organogels, it was possible to raise T_gel further to 43 °C (56% change). X‐ray diffraction data and Cole–Cole plots indicated that clay platelets were homogeneously exfoliated in the organogel matrix. Thus, the thermoviscoelastic properties of gelatin organogels could be modulated to raise the gelation temperature to 43 °C, and gel strength to 1200 Pa by the addition of nanoclay whose concentration may not exceed 0.03% (w/v). Considering the wide application of gelatin gels in pharmaceuticals, food preservation and personal care products, the aforesaid enhancement in physical properties is significant. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Porous microparticles based on methacrylic copolymers and gellan as drug delivery systems

Two types of porous microparticles based on glycidyl methacrylate, dimethacrylic monomers (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and gellan were prepared by two methods. The first method was aqueous suspension polymerization in the presence of N‐butyl acetate as porogenic agent when the crosslinking and grafting reactions were achieved in a single step. The second method was based on the reaction between hydroxyl groups belonging to gellan and the epoxy groups situated on the surface of porous microparticles based on glycidyl methacrylate and dimethacrylic monomers in basic medium. The microparticles with and without gellan were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, SEM, AFM and TGA. Also, the porous structure was investigated in terms of pore volume, porosity and specific surface. The swelling behaviour in aqueous solution with different pH values as well as sorption studies of cefuroxime sodium salt onto porous microparticles were investigated. The presence of gellan in the structure of the microparticles leads to porous materials characterized by higher specific surface areas (S_sp = 78–140 m² g^–1), higher swelling capacities (S_w = 162%–365%) and higher sorption capacities of the drug (q_e = 101–147 mg g^–1) compared to microparticles without gellan in their structures (S_sp = 73–85 m² g^–1; S_w = 139%–209%; q_e = 70–110 mg g^–1). © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mechanical reinforcement in magadiite/styrene‐butadiene rubber composites

This work investigates mechanical properties of styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) composites incorporating magadiite (MGD), a synthetic layered silicate (Na₂Si₁₄O₂₉·9H₂O) with surface chemistry similar to precipitated silica used in tire tread formulations. Treatment with cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA⁺) expands the MGD layers and makes the interlayer face surfaces accessible to sulfur‐functional silane TESPT (Si69) and SBR, primarily during batch mixing. DMA and tensile testing of cured CMGD/SBR composites show that CTA‐treated MGD (CMGD) provides substantially higher levels of mechanical reinforcement than equivalent amounts of silica. However, CMGD/SBR composites exhibit larger loss tangent values above T_g, probably due to lower SBR‐SBR crosslink density resulting from interlayer trapping of sulfur released by Si69 during vulcanization. DMA and tensile testing also demonstrate Si69′s critical role in forming MGD‐SBR graft sites essential to mechanical reinforcement. Replacing silica with CMGD reduces composite weight without sacrificing tensile modulus, suggesting that use of CMGD in tire rubber formulations could improve vehicle energy efficiency. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44763.     

Preparation of dispersible nanosilica surface-capped by hexamethyl disilazane via an in situ surface-modification method and investigation of its effects on the mechanical properties of styrene–butadiene/butadiene rubber

Silica has been established as one of the most promising materials in green tires. The filler–rubber interactions can increase the comprehensive performance of rubber composites. In this study, sodium silicate was used as the silicon source and hexamethyl disilazane (HMDS; molecular formula: C₆H₁₉NSi₂) was used as a modifier to synthesize dispersible silica (DNS) via an in situ surface-modification method. The effects of the HMDS-capped silica on the properties of rubber–matrix composites made of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) and high-cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR9000 or BR) were investigated with Zeosil 1165MP (Z1165-MP; a commercial highly dispersible silica produced by Rhodia for the production of green tires in the rubber industry) as a reference. The results show that the SBR–BR–DNS composite was before the SBR–BR–Z1165-MP composite in increasing the tear strength and elongation at break and reducing the compression heat buildup. On the basis of the resulting properties, the reinforcing behaviors in the rubber–matrix composites were analyzed. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47763.