Halloysite Nanotubes Filled Natural Rubber Composites: Functionality, Crystallinity and Thermal Studies

Abstract

In this article, low loading of Halloysite Nanotube (HNT) was used as filler for natural rubber (NR) composites where it was used at 0-10 phr. The change of functionalities and crystalline structure were investigated by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The performance of the composites was further monitored through the thermogravimetric analysis. The band of Al-OH vibration shifted from 910 to 914 cm -1 after the addition of 2.5-10 phr of HNT. Further increase in the HNT loading has caused to increase in the peak intensities of Si-O and Al-OH vibrations. This limited intercalation of HNT throughout NR and other ingredients was evidently shown in XRD results. Moreover, the addition of HNT also results in shifting the decomposition temperature and char residue irrespective of the loadings of HNT, the tubular-shape and unique structure of HNT is clearly responsible to the thermal stability observed.