Study on the Effect of Nano and Active Particles of Alumina on Natural Rubber–Alumina Composites in the Presence of Epoxidized Natural Rubber as Compatibilizer

Natural rubber composites with alumina of different particle sizes (28 nm nano particles, 200 nm active particles and > 1000 nm raw alumina) were prepared by the usual rubber processing technique. Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was used in the composites as compatibilizer. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of all composites were analyzed. The values of minimum rheometric torque (ML), maximum rheometric torque (MH) and torque difference (MH – ML) increased. Maximum enhancement was observed for the nano-filled composites. It endorses the view that nano alumina reveals highest interaction with natural rubber in presence of ENR. Scorch time and optimum cure time values for nano-composites were highest among all types of composites. Vulcanization reaction for the sulfur curing system of the composites was found to follow first order rate kinetics. Specific rate constant decreased with decreasing particle size in composites. Crosslink densities of composite-vulcanizates showed increasing trend with decreasing particle size of alumina. Mechanical properties of the composite vulcanizates increased with decreasing particle size of alumina - nano composites exhibiting much higher mechanical strength. Results of oxidative resistance reveal that particle size of alumina in composite vulcanizates has a significant impact on aging behavior.