Fracture behaviour of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber/clay nanocomposite

A new fracture behaviour is described for acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber/cl ay nanocomposite. The nanocomposite is prepared by melt mixing the organo-t reated montmorillonite into the rubber matrix, together with a peroxide cur ative, and crosslinked by conventional compression moulding for typical rub bers. A considerable enhancement in stiffness is observed without serious s acrifice in ultimate strength. A totally different tear morphology of a ser ies of regularly-spaced tear ridges parallel to the direction of tearing wa s observed instead of the typical 'cross-hatched morphology' of conventiona l rubber composites. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.