Real-Time Crystallization of Organoclay Nanoparticle Filled Natural Rubber under Stretching

An experimental evidence of a remarkable enhancement of strain-induced crystallization in natural rubber nanocomposite under uniaxial stretching, due to the presence of nanoclay particles, is described. Synchroton wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) have been used to monitor structure changes and crystallinity development during deformation. The results showed a dual crystallization mechanism in nanocomposites, which consists of spatial reorganization of organoclay at low strains, followed by rapid strain-induced crystallization of natural rubber. The presence of nanoparticles introduces new energy-dissipating mechanisms, and the mechanical property enhancement refers to the nanoparticle mobility and orientation during deformation. In-situ experiments were also carried out to relate the stress-strain behavior with structure determination using WAXD.