Aspects of producing hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) nanocomposites by melt compounding processing

Industry is constantly demanding for materials with differential properties that explores nanoscale fillers functionality. Unfortunately, most of the papers present processing methods that are hard to scale up. Effects in addition different amounts of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and few-layer graphene (FLG) on cure behaviour, viscoelastic, mechanical and electrical properties of a hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) are investigated and compared with those composites having carbon black (CB) as filler. Looking for scale up the produced nanocomposites, rubber composites were produced in a closed mixing chamber by melt mixing with unmodified fillers. Addition of nanotubes reduces curing time. Microstructural analyses indicate that FLG cannot be easily dispersed by this methodology. Significant improvement in mechanical properties is observed with MWCNT addition, with 940% modulus increment regarding to the pure polymer and also, in lower intensity, in HNBR/FLG composites. Moreover, HNBR/MWCNT composites presented a sharp reduction in electrical resistivity at low loading level.