Insight into Mechanical Properties and Strain-induced Crystallisation of Epoxidized Natural Rubber Filled with Various Silanized Halloysite Nanotubes

Natural rubber (NR) and halloysite nanotube (HNT) composites are known to perform poorly due polarity differences between the two components. As such, many extant studies have attempted increase their compatibility. Therefore, this study introduced epoxidized natural (ENR) together with silane coupling agents into composite ensure rubber-filler interactions. Four different silanes namely bis-[(triethoxysilyl)propyl] disulphide (TESPD), bis[(triethoxysilyl)propyl] tetrasulfide (TESPT), triethoxyvinylsilane (VTEO), 3-mercaptopropyl-di(tridecan-1-oxy-13-penta(ethyleneoxide)) ethoxysilane (VPSi-363) were used. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of confirmed formation hydrogen bonds as peak Si-O shifted higher wavenumbers; i.e., 1080 cm-1 1042 cm-1. Silane was also found improve tensile strength, modulus tear strength regardless functionality. This further supported by findings Payne effect. for strain-induced crystallisation (SIC), stress-strain curves agreed well development crystallinity observed during synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering analysis.