Dynamic Mechanical Property of Kaolinite/Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Composites

The dynamic properties of kaolinite/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites filled by kaolinite were investigated to evaluate their real-world engineering applications. The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the rubber chains were confined within the interparticle space of kaolinites, and that the nanoscale kaolinites exhibited a fine and physical dispersion in the SBR matrix. The dyanmic properties of kaolinite/SBR composites were investigated by performing dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and rubber processing analysis (RPA). Both the decrease in kaolinite particle size and the increase in kaolinite content can greatly improve the storage modulus and reinforcing effect of kaolinite/SBR composites. A small particle size and a low filled content of kaolinite filler is favorable for the dynamic properties of kaolinite/SBR composites for tire products. The filler networking phenomenon attributed to the agglomeration-de-agglomeration of filler particles intensified as the kaolinite particle size was reduced and the kaolinite content was increased, which resulted from the increase in the unit volume fraction of kaolinite in the rubber matrix and the stronger interaction of kaolinite particles in the composite matrix.