Study on the Effect of Mixing Condition on the Mechanical Properties of SBR Nanocomposite

In the melt intercalation method for producing of nanocomposites, the most important parameters which lead to gain this morphology are surface modification of nano filler by surfactants and proper processing condition.Many attempts have been focused to describe the effect of processing parameters (in single and twin screw extruders and batch mixer) on variation of nanocomposite morphology. Demirkol et al. [1] studied different methods (batch and continuous polymer processing) to produce nanocomposites. Their results indicated the difficulty of the preparing nanocomposites using melt compounding when the interfacial properties between the polymer matrix and the organoclay are not favorable.In spite of many researches in extrusion of thermoplastic nanocomposites, there are a few publications about affective parameters in batch mixer for producing rubber nanocomposites.You Ping et al. [2] studied the effect of mixing on the properties of NR, SBR, BR and EPDM nanocomposites. Their results showed the mixing process plays a predominant role in formation of nanometer scale dispersed structure. The effect of mixer type and temperature on the properties of EPDM nanocomposite have been studied by Gatos K.G et al [3] .It was found, increasing temperature and high shear mixing improve the mechanical performance of the rubber nano composite.In the present work the effect of mixing time, nano filler concentration and mixing temperature on the mechanical properties of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were investigated by response surface methodology. The properties as responses were cure rheometry properties such as scorch time, Mooney viscosity and the mechanical properties