Emerging progress in montmorillonite rubber/polymer nanocomposites: a review

Abstract

Montmorillonite is a natural clay mineral linked with the smectite group of a dioctahedral 2:1 phyllosilicate formed by two tetrahedral sheets along with one octahedral sheet. In contradiction to other clay nanoparticles, the montmorillonite confers an interlayer spacing on either side of each triple-sheet layer. MMT was fashioned by dissolving rocks and minerals on Earth’s surface. The remarkable qualities responsible for the reinforcing efficiency of MMT include greater surface area and a higher aspect ratio. These qualities confer distinctive thermal, gas barrier, mechanical and rheological properties to MMT-rubber or polymer composites. It is also used as a promoter of rubber particle size reduction in polymer or rubber matrices and has attracted diverse merits for material applications globally. MMT displays potential for use as active agents and as an alternative to other expensive nanoparticles in the fabrication of multi-use and high-quality rubber nanocomposites. Rubber nanocomposites filled with MMT showed superior viscosity, toughness, and rigidity with less tensile strength and elongation at break. This paper reviews current multi-advancements in montmorillonite rubber or polymer nanocomposites (MMT-RCNs/PCNs): applications of MMT-RCNs/PCNs in aerospace, automobile, food additives, antibacterial, polymer, sorbent, catalyst, pharmaceutical, tissue engineering, biosensing, drug release and the utilization of polymer-based hydrogels investigated at both 2D and 3D nanoclay particles for various applications. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].