Effectiveness of Natural Polymers as Surface Modifiers in Enhancing Reinforcing Action of Silica in Carboxylated NBR Latices

Reinforcement of Carboxylated Acrylonitrile Butadiene rubber (XNBR) latex using surface modified silica and nanosilica has been investigated in this study. Surface modifiers are special category of substances used to impart better interactions between filler and latex in polymer-latex industry. Modification of both micro silica and nano silica particles’ surface with natural method (NPs) was conferred by an in-situ surface modification process using cellulose, gelatin, chitosan and collagen separately. The reinforcement effect of surface modified silica could be assessed by determining swelling, crosslink density, tensile and tear properties of vulcanized latex films. The distribution of modified silica within the latex films was studied by observing the cross sections of films through a metallurgical microscope. In this study cellulose was found to be the most effective surface modifier probably by discouraging filler/filler interactions while encouraging rubber/filler interactions.