Mechanical reinforcement in a polyisoprene rubber by hybrid nanofillers

Melt blending of hybrid nanofillers with rubber matrices could make rubber nanocomposites more attractive for industrial applications. In this work, the low-amplitude dynamic shear modulus of polyisoprene rubber filled with carbon nanotubes or nano-graphite, individually or in combination with carbon black, was measured. A rationalisation of the results highlighted interactive effects of carbon allotropes on the mechanical reinforcement of rubber nanocomposites. The filler-matrix interfacial area was identified as a parameter able to correlate the moduli values of different fillers, by reducing them to a common master curve.