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The present study is devoted to investigating the mechanical characteristics of a novel natural rubber (NR)-based elastomer nanocomposite reinforced with carbon black and alumina nanoparticles acting as partial and primary reinforcements, respectively. Before conducting various mechanical tests on the specimens, the vulcanization properties of this elastomer nanocomposite was surveyed. It is demonstrated that adding the alumina nanoparticles to the NR-based elastomer matrix can significantly reduce the cure time and improve the quality of the vulcanizates. Then, the influence of alumina nanoparticles on the modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break, and energy absorption capacity of the elastomer nanocomposite were assessed, and the ideal nanoparticles' weight percentage was determined to be 10%. This is supported by calculating the Reinforcing Efficiency Parameter (REP), indicating that the elastomer nanocomposite with 10% alumina has the best reinforcing efficiency in tensile properties. Also, using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB), it was found that the material is exceptionally strain-rate sensitive, and the specimens exhibited much higher values of stiffness and energy absorption under high strain-rate loading. It is inferred from the results that the elastomer nanocomposite reinforced with the optimal amount of alumina nanoparticles can be an excellent candidate for energy absorption applications under high strain-rate loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid rubber nanocomposite blends based on (80/20) XNBR/EPDM containing 5 phr Cloisite 10A, 15A 20A, 25A, 93A, 30B, carbon black and silica nanofiller and two types of EPDM-g-MA and ENR 50 containing 5 phr was prepared by a two roll mill. A rheometer test was used to study the curing of the blends, the tensile test was used to study the mechanical strength of the nanocomposite and XRD, FESEM and TEM tests were used to evaluate and observe the morphology of the nanocomposite blends prepared. The results of the rheometer test show that the Cloisite 30B nanofiller, in addition to increasing the torque and optimum cure time, decreased compared to other nanofillers. The results of the XRD test showed that the ENR50 compatibilizer with the Cloisite 30B nanofiller compared to other nanofillers, compared to the EPDM-g-MA compatibilizer, significantly increased the openness of the layers by 2.21 nm. The results of FESEM and TEM confirmed the better distribution of Cloisite 30B nanoparticles in the XNBR/EPDM sample containing ENR 50 compatibilizer. Also, XRD evidence showed that the opening of the nanofiller layers of Cloisite 30B was higher the other nanofillers. This result is consistent with microscopic observations. In addition, all nanoparticles are located in the XNBR phase. The results of the tensile test showed that the modulus and tensile strength of nanocomposite containing Cloisite 30B nanofiller and ENR 50 compatibilizer with other nanocomposites increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]