Maleinized polybutadienes as clay modifiers for SBR-based rubber nanocomposites

In this paper we report the modification of Cloisite 30B by intercalation of low MW polybutadienes (LPBs) and their maleinized homologues (LPB-MAs) with the same maleic anhydride content. We describe the reaction between the pendant succinic rings of maleinized LPBs and the hydroxyl groups of the clay modifier; moreover, we study the effect of the modifications on the properties of the clays. Morphological and structural investigations of the SBR-based composites obtained by melt blending are described and structure-properties relationships deeply discussed.