molecular motions to a smaller extent. The effect can be noticed at temperatures
above the Tg of NR but the drop in the E
0 of the PS-nSiO 2 or PS-nSiO 2
nanocomposite below 10
C is clearly observed. This may be attributed to the PS
molecules on the surface of the nSiO 2 that shield the matrix from the silica
nanoparticles leading to an increase in the free volume and the mobility of the
rubber molecules. Moreover, the Tg of the NR and XSBR in the rubber blend and
nanocomposites, as determined from the tan δ peaks were found to be very
close [97].
Fig. 15 Temperature dependence of (a) Storage modulus (E
0 ) and (b) the loss tangent (tan δ) for
50/50 XSBR/NR blend with and without 3 phr of either nSiO 2 or PS-nSiO 2 [97]
110
A.B. Nair et al.
above the Tg of NR but the drop in the E
0 of the PS-nSiO 2 or PS-nSiO 2
nanocomposite below 10
C is clearly observed. This may be attributed to the PS
molecules on the surface of the nSiO 2 that shield the matrix from the silica
nanoparticles leading to an increase in the free volume and the mobility of the
rubber molecules. Moreover, the Tg of the NR and XSBR in the rubber blend and
nanocomposites, as determined from the tan δ peaks were found to be very
close [97].
Fig. 15 Temperature dependence of (a) Storage modulus (E
0 ) and (b) the loss tangent (tan δ) for
50/50 XSBR/NR blend with and without 3 phr of either nSiO 2 or PS-nSiO 2 [97]
110
A.B. Nair et al.