Maleinized polybutadienes as clay modifiers for SBR-based rubber nanocomposites

In this work we report the modification of Cloisite 30B (C30B) by intercalation of low MW polybutadienes (LPBs) and their maleinized homologues (LPB-MAs) containing 7.5 wt.% maleic anhydride. We describe the reaction between the pendant succinic rings of maleinized LPBs and the hydroxyl groups of the clay modifier and 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.