Enhancing Mechanical Performance of Carbon Black-Filled Rubber Nanocomposites With Na2Ti3O7 Nanorods Reinforcement for Tire Applications

Rubber materials require nanofiller reinforcement to overcome their intrinsic low modulus and stress-at-elongation limitations. Although traditional carbon black (CB) enhances mechanical properties, its aggregation-induced filler networks exacerbate dynamic hysteresis and heat generation. Silica nanoparticles reduce rolling resistance but face challenges in limited tensile strength improvements. Emerging fillers like carbon nanotubes and graphene suffer from dispersion issues or excessive heat generation. Herein, monodisperse sodium titanate (Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 , NTO) nanorods with high aspect ratios (2–300) were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method and incorporated into CB/natural rubber (NR) composites. The NTO(20)/CB(30)/NR system exhibited superior static/dynamic performance: tensile strength (+16%), stress at 100% elongation (+211%), 28% lower compression heat build-up, 204% extended fatigue life, and 11% reduced Akron abrasion loss. These enhancements stem from NTO's high surface area strengthening rubber-filler interactions and rod-like morphology disrupting CB networks. This work demonstrates a scalable hybrid filler strategy to advance sustainable rubber technologies for high-performance industrial and mobility applications.