Effect of nanosized mesoporous MCM-41 (with template) material on properties of natural rubber nanocomposites

Mesoporous mobil composition of matter 41 (MCM-41) (with template) was used directly as a new filler for naural rubber (NR). Inside the pore chanels, and on the outer surface of the MCM-41 particle, were cationic surfactant CTAB and Pluronic F₁₂₇ (molecular weight  =  11 500) mixture. Results showed that the tensile properties and the thermal stability of NR/mesoporous MCM-41 (with template) nanocomposite were improved at low filler loading as compared with those of NR compound. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that enhancement of the interface was obtained by adding MCM-41 (with template).