The Role of Halloysite’s Surface Area and Aspect Ratio on Tensile Properties of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Nanocomposites

Authors: Pooria Pasbakhsh, Rangika T. De Silva, Vahdat Vahedi, Hanafi Ismail

Abstract:

The influence of three different types of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with different dimensions, namely as camel lake (CLA), Jarrahdale (JA) and Matauri Bay (MB), on their reinforcing ability of ethylene propylene dine monomer (EPDM) were investigated by varying the HNTs loading (from 0-15 phr). Mechanical properties of the nanocomposites improved with addition of all three HNTs, but CLA based nanocomposites exhibited a significant enhancement compared to the other HNTs. For instance, tensile properties of EPDM nanocomposites increased by 120%, 256% and 340% for MB, JA and CLA, respectively, with addition of 15 phr of HNTs. This could be due to the higher aspect ratio and higher surface area of CLA compared to others. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of nanocomposites at 15 phr of HNT loadings showed low amounts of pulled-out nanotubes which confirmed the presence of more embedded nanotubes inside the EPDM matrix, as well as aggregates within the fracture surface of EPDM/HNT nanocomposites

Keywords: Aspect ratio, Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), Mechanical properties, Rubber/clay nanocomposites.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1097377

References:

[1] H. Ismail, P. Pasbakhsh, M. A. Fauzi, A. A. Bakar. Morphological, thermal and tensile properties of halloysite nanotubes filled ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) nanocomposites. Polymer Testing. 27(7): 841–850, 2008.
[2] M. Du, B. Guo, D. Jia. Newly emerging applications of halloysite nanotubes: a review. Polymer International. 59(5): 574-582, 2010.
[3] H. Zheng, Y. Zhang, Z. Peng, Y. Zhang. Influence of clay modification on the structure and mechanical properties of EPDM/montmorillonite nanocomposites. Polymer Testing. 23(2): 217-223, 2004.
[4] P. Pasbakhsh, J. Churchman, J. Keeling. Characterisation of properties of various halloysites relevant to their use as nanotubes and microfibre fillers. Applied Clay Science. 74: 47-57, 2013.
[5] X. Sun, Y. Zhang, H. Shen, N. Jia. Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of horseradish peroxidase based on halloysite nanotubes/chitosan nanocomposite film. Electrochimica Acta. 56(2): 700-705, 2010.
[6] A. S. Deuri, A. K. Bhowmick. Aging of EPDM rubber. Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 34(6):2205-2222, 1987.
[7] Y. –W. Chang, Y. Yang, S. Ryu, C. Nah. Preparation and properties of EPDM/organomontmorillonite hybrid nanocomposites. Polymer International. 51(4):319-324, 2002.