Reinforcement of epoxidized natural rubber through the addition of sepiolite

Sepiolite reinforced epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) composites were prepared by incorporation different loadings of sepiolite. Curing characteristics, mechanical properties, morphology and thermal stability of sepiolite‐filled ENR composites were studied. Adding sepiolite into ENR has resulted in remarkable improvement of curing characteristics, mechanical properties and thermal stability. This is attributed to the unique structure of sepiolite itself. It gives a greater interaction between hydroxyl and/or siloxane groups of sepiolite and epoxide segment of ENR. The mechanical properties are very good agreement to the SEM micrographs where more surface roughness is observed upon the addition of sepiolite. Further evidence was found for the thermal decomposition temperature of the composites. The obtained thermogravimetric profiles indicate that their thermal stability was clearly enhanced irrespective of sepiolite loadings. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:924–931, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers