Thermal stability and flammability of nanocomposites made of diene rubbers and modified halloysite nanotubes

This paper presents a method of modification of halloysite with the use of aqueous solutions of halogens and an alcoholic solution of boric acid. The effect of modified nanoadditives on the thermal properties, flammability, and fire hazard of peroxide and sulfur vulcanizates of butadiene–acrylonitrile (NBR) and butadiene–styrene (SBR) rubbers was described and assessed. The test results obtained by spectrometric methods, oxygen index, and cone calorimeter were interpreted from the point of view of the chemical structure of the investigated diene elastomers and the particular method of halloysite modification. The analysis of values obtained by the method of cone calorimetry it confirms that most NBR and SBR vulcanizates filled with modified halloysite are more resistant to fire when compared with material without modification. In addition, the modified halloysite are crucial in making self-extinguishing elastomeric materials.