Self‐assembled carbon nanofibers–silica nanocomposites for hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber reinforcement

Abstract In order to enhance the dispersion of silica (SiO₂) in hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and improve the mechanical properties of rubber composites, carbon nanofibers–silica (CNFs–SiO₂) nanocomposites were prepared by the self‐assembly method and used as fillers in HNBR to obtain CNFs–SiO₂/HNBR rubber composites. The composition, structures, and properties of CNFs–SiO₂ nanocomposites and CNFs–SiO₂/HNBR rubber composites were investigated. The results show that SiO₂ loaded onto the surface of CNFs by electrostatic adsorption can significantly attenuate SiO₂ nanoparticle agglomeration and improve the dispersion of nanocomposites in rubber. The maximum tensile strength (26.7 MPa), this peak strength was 1.6 times that of SiO₂/HNBR and 3 times that of CNFs/HNBR, elongation at break (445%), and tear strength (43.7 kN/m) of CNFs–SiO₂/HNBR were all reached at a CNF mass percentage of 4% and filling fraction of 50 phr. These results indicate that CNFs–SiO₂ as a reinforcing filler can significantly improve rubber mechanical properties.