Influence of POSS fillers on the transport properties of natural rubber nanocomposites

Three types of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-octaphenyl (OP), POSS@TESPT (TT), and MWCNT@POSS (VC)-were incorporated into natural rubber (NR) to fabricate nanocomposites. The transport properties of POSS-NR nanocomposites were studied through solvent diffusion techniques. Diffusion studies were done with toluene (aromatic solvent) and the influence of nanofiller structure, concentration and compatibility with the NR matrix on various diffusion parameters were analyzed. The fillers that have good interaction with the polymer matrix showed the lowest solvent uptake. The network structure analysis revealed that the polymer chains deformed affinely. The effect of fillers on the chain flexibility was also discussed based on mechanical property studies. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3020-3031, 2019. (c) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers