Epoxidized SBS as Compatibilizer for Obtaining SBS/Clay Cloisite 10A Nanocomposites

Nanoscale fillers have been used to develop new polymeric materials with better mechanical performance. In this study, a mixture of thermoplastic rubber, poly (styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS), and Montmorillonite (Cloisite 10A) was obtained via the melt intercalation. A suspension of Cloisite 10A in cyclohexane was added to SBS in solution. To increase the compatibility between the clay and the thermoplastic rubber an epoxidized rubber was used as coupling agent. The proportion of clay and compatibilizer was changed from 0.6 to 3.0 to probe the influence of this ratio on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. The morphological and mechanical properties were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and evaluation of the final torque of the mixture. The combination of clay /compatibilizer favored the formation of elongated structures, leading to an increased modulus and strength with a small reduction in elongation.