The Impact of Nano CaCO₃ Modified in situ with Methacrylic Acid on the Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) was reinforced in situ with nano CaCO₃ that had been modified with methacrylic acid (MAA)(M-CaCO₃). The structures and properties of the resulting composites were studied using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and Mooney viscometer and mechanical tests. The results show that when NR is physically blended with CaCO₃ and MAA, (Ca2+)-(⁻OOC) is formed in situ. When dicumyl peroxide (DCP) is added, the (Ca²⁺)-(⁻OOC) self-homopolymerizes, and during the curing process poly-(Ca²+)-(⁻OOC) is formed and grafts to the molecular chains of the NR via carbon-carbon double bonds. The NR/M-CaCO₃ composites formed have close interfacial interaction and are well dispersed. Compared with the NR composites reinforced with unmodified nano CaCO₃, the NR/M-CaCO₃ composites have very different cure characteristics, rheological behavior, and mechanical properties, and these characteristics and properties show a significant relationship with the loading of M-CaCO₃.

Keywords

natural rubber / nano CaCO₃ / nano composites / in situ modification

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