SILVA, A. A.; SILVA, Adriana Almeida.
Abstract:
The organophilic clays have a great number of applications in the several
technological areas such as reinforcement filler in polymeric matrix, which produces a
new class of materials presenting a high potential to be used and it has been the aim
of several researches. Vulcanized rubbers are normally filled with carbon black that
improves mechanical strength. The carbon black, responsible for the black color of
rubber, is obtained from petroleum and is also a serious environmental subject due to
pollution caused by its use. The aim of the present research is to focus the attention
for the development of reinforcement agents by organophilic clays, to substitute the
black carbon in the rubber. For such purpose, national smectites from Boa Vista city,
Paraiba, Brazil were modified to obtain organophilic clays. For this modification it was
used a commercial Brazilian quaternary ammonium salt named: trimethyl hexadecyl
ammonium chloride. It was also performed a study with an imported organophilic clay
to compare with the organophilic clay prepared in laboratory. The samples were
submitted to a physical-chemistry and mechanical characterization. The results
confirm the formation of organophilic clay/rubber nanocomposites system and these
materials presented better mechanical properties when compared to the rubber filled
with the same amount of carbon black .
