Preparation and Properties of Natural Rubber/Palygorskite Composites by Co-Coagulating Rubber Latex and Clay Aqueous Suspension

Natural rubber (NR)/Palygorskite composites were prepared by co-coagulating rubber latex and clay aqueous suspension. Org-palygorskite was attained by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the four factors influencing the average diameter of palygorskite were discussed. Four optimal conditions of preparing minimum average diameter were determined which included the concentration of palygorskite, the concentration of sodium polyacrylate, ultrasonic time and ultrasonic power. Mechanical properties suggested that composites using modified palygorskite which were dispersed by ultrasonic wave were the best, the tensile strength, tear strength, 300% modulus and shall hardness increased by 77.14%, 118.18%, 242.86% and 65.2%, respectively. Modified palygorskite was shown by FTIR spectrogram and observed by ESEM. Modified palygorskite dispersed by ultrasonic wave were dispersed into the rubble uniformly, some stick particles inserted into the rubber and it is difficult to find stick shape, and there were 20% particles belonging to nanomaterials and 80% micromaterials.