Strain induced crystallization in vulcanized natural rubber containing ground tire rubber particles with reinforcement and nucleation abilities

Strain induced crystallization (SIC) of peroxide vulcanized natural rubber (NR)/ground tire (GTR) composites is studied by combining mechanical and microstructural characterization techniques. It found that the incorporation GTR into NR matrix leads to more effective reinforcement at large strains room temperature in NR/GTR as compared neat NR. attributed (i) presence particles acting reinforcing fillers owing their high carbon black content, (ii) nucleating effect for SIC inducing further through generation an increasing number oriented crystallites behave supplementary fillers.