A novel rubber filler, black liquor–montmorillonite complex (BL–MMT) was prepared by dehydration of a mixture of MMT and BL and used in the preparation of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composites by mechanical mixing method. The BL–MMT/rubber composites were characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Experimental results of XRD and TEM indicated that MMT was well‐dispersed in the rubber because of the presence of lignin. DSC, thermo‐oxidative aging measurements and TGA results demonstrated that the thermal properties of NBR were improved due to the addition of BL–MMT. The tensile properties including tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus were also tested. All experimental results indicated that this BL–MMT complex could be an effective reinforcing agent in rubber for cost‐saving and environment benefits. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

Rubber compounds based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) containing organically modified layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were prepared using peroxide as a curing agent. The LDHs intercalated by organic compounds including sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) while the unmodified LDHs were used as contrast. Experimental results from TGA and XRD showed that both SSS‐ and SDBS‐intercalated LDHs were successfully obtained. The morphology of the LDH composites was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and XRD. The chemical structure of NBR/LDHs compounds were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The thermal properties were measured by TGA and differential scanning calorimetry. Other properties such as mechanical and swelling properties were also investigated. The results showed that a chemical bonding between organically modified LDHs and rubber matrix through SSS was built during vulcanization, which leads to improved interfacial strength of the cured compound. A high‐performance acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/SSS‐modified LDH compound, which has two times higher tensile strength than cured pure rubber without significant loss of elongation, was obtained. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013

Acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) composites filled with co‐precipitates of black liquor and montmorillonite (CLM) were prepared by mechanical mixing on a two‐roll mill. The cure characteristics, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and thermo‐oxidative aging properties of NBR/CLM composites were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that the filler particles were well dispersed in the NBR/CLM composites. The scorch time and optimum cure time increase with increasing filler loading. A remarkable enhancement in tensile strength, elongation at break, 300% modulus, and shore “A” hardness was also observed. When the loading of CLM was 40 parts per hundred rubbers, it showed about seven times increase in tensile strength, about 1.8 times increase in elongation at break, about three times increase in 300% modulus, and about 1.3 times increase in shore A hardness, respectively, as compared with those of pure cured NBR. Thermal properties and thermal oxidative aging properties, in general, were also improved with loading of this novel filler. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.