Effect of in situ silanization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the properties of NBR/MWCNT-OH composites

This paper presents the preparation and properties of improved acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) composites with hydroxylated carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-OH). A series of in situ modifications were performed using [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl]trimethoxysilane (APTS), vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTS) and (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTS). The curing behavior, crosslink density, static and dynamic mechanical properties (DMTA), filler-filler interactions (Payne effect), thermal stability (TGA) and aging stability of the NBR nanocomposites were investigated, in addition to morphological studies (SEM/EDS). The experimental data prove that the most promising silane agent stongly affecting the properties of NBR/MWCNT-OH composite systems was APTS. The NBR vulcanizates showed increased torque, crosslink density, dynamic moduli and tensile strength. [GRAPHICS] .