Enhancement of flame retardancy of rubber matrix using nanofillers.

Natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites filled with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and organoclay (O-MMT) were prepared by melt mixing, and their vulcanization, mechanical, thermal and flammability properties were characterized. The obtained results were compared with those of carbon black (CB) and pure NR composites. The incorporation of OC reduced drastically the cure times, when compared with CNT and CB-reinforced compounds.