Novel silicone rubber/layered double hydroxide nanocomposite: Preparation and characterization

Abstract

Silicone rubber (SR)/stearate ion modified Mg–Al–LDH (St-LDH) with 1, 3, 5, 8% loading are obtained by the solution intercalation and characterized. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) of 3 wt% filler loaded SR nanocomposite confirms the exfoliation of St-LDH layers (thickness:1–2 nm, size:75–100 nm). Tensile strength, elongation at break and Young’s modulus of the corresponding nanocomposite are found to be maximum improved compared to neat SR by 97, 43 and 55% respectively. SEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces show the uniform failure of the matrix without involving any crack initiation in neat SR, whereas roughly fractured surface with large number of microvoids are observed in the corresponding of SR nanocomposite. The improvement in the solvent-resistance properties of the SR/St-LDH nanocomposites is attributed to the excellent barrier properties of St-LDH layers and the exfoliated structure of St-LDH. The developed SR/St-LDH nanocomposites are expected to be a novel material with unique combination of mechanical and solvent resistance property.