Selectively Etched Halloysite Nanotubes as Performance Booster of Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites.

Halloysite Nanotubes (HNT) are chemically similar to clay, which makes them incompatible with non-polar rubbers such as natural rubber (NR). Modification of NR into a polar rubber is of interest. In this work, Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR) was prepared in order to obtain a composite that could assure filler-matrix compatibility.

Potency of Urea-Treated Halloysite Nanotubes for the Simultaneous Boosting of Mechanical Properties and Crystallization of Epoxidized Natural Rubber Composites.

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are naturally occurring tubular clay made of aluminosilicate sheets rolled several times. HNT has been used to reinforce many rubbers. However, the narrow diameter of this configuration causes HNT to have poor interfacial contact with the rubber matrix.