Morphology and mechanical properties of natural rubber latex films modified by exfoliated Na-montmorillonite/polyethyleneimine-g-poly (methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites

Na-montmorillonite/polyethyleneimine- g -poly(methyl methacrylate) (Na-MMT/PEI- g -PMMA) nanocomposite latexes were prepared by soap-free emulsion polymerization in the aqueous suspension of Na-MMT. The exfoliated morphology of the nanocomposites was confirmed by XRD and TEM. With the aim of improving morphology and mechanical properties of natural rubber latex (NRL) films, the synthesized Na-MMT/PEI- g -PMMA nanocomposites were mixed with NRL by latex compounding technology. The results of SEM and AFM analysis showed that the surface of NRL/Na-MMT/PEI- g -PMMA film was smoother and denser than that of pristine NRL film while Na-MMT was dispersed uniformly on the fracture surface of the modified films, which suggested the good compatibility between NRL and Na-MMT/PEI- g -PMMA. The tensile strength of NRL/Na-MMT/PEI- g -PMMA films was increased greatly by 85% with 10 phr Na-MMT/PEI- g -PMMA when Na-MMT content was 3 wt % and the elongation at break also increased from 930% to 1073% at the same time. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 43961.