Effect of Nano-Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Elastomer Composites: A Comparative Study of Silica, Graphene, Nano-Clay and Carbon Nanotubes

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-668-5_7How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Graphene nanoplatelets; natural rubber; styrene–butadiene rubber; mechanical properties; nano-clay

Abstract

In this study, natural rubber (NR) and styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) composites reinforced with different nano-fillers—silica, graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), nano-clay (NC), and carbon nanotubes (CNT)—were prepared and systematically analyzed. The main aim of the work was to investigate how the type of nano-filler and its dispersion affect the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the rubber composites. The materials were produced using an internal mixer followed by two-roll milling, and the nano-fillers were added at optimized loadings (3 phr for graphene and CNT, and 5 phr for silica and nano-clay).

The results showed that all nano-filled composites exhibited better mechanical performance than the unfilled rubber. Graphene and CNT provided the strongest reinforcing effect, increasing tensile strength by about 25–35%. This improvement is mainly related to their high aspect ratio and strong interaction with the rubber matrix. Silica and nano-clay also enhanced hardness and thermal stability, which can be attributed to their relatively uniform dispersion and the formation of partial hydrogen bonding with the polymer chains.

Scanning electron microscopy confirmed a homogeneous distribution of the fillers in well-processed composites. In addition, thermogravimetric and dynamic mechanical analyses revealed improved thermal resistance and reduced damping behavior after nano-filler incorporation.

Overall, the results indicate that the selection of an appropriate nano-filler and achieving good dispersion are key factors for improving the multifunctional performance of NR/SBR composites. These materials show strong potential for advanced applications such as tire treads, sealing elements, vibration isolation systems, and flexible electronic components.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Ibrahim Movlayev
AU  - Rasmiyya Mammadova
AU  - Aynur Mammadova
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/14
TI  - Effect of Nano-Fillers on the Mechanical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Elastomer Composites: A Comparative Study of Silica, Graphene, Nano-Clay and Carbon Nanotubes
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Current Problems in Engineering and Applied Sciences (ICCPEAS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 51
EP  - 63
SN  - 2352-5401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-668-5_7
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-668-5_7
ID  - Movlayev2026
ER  -