Enhancement of mechanical properties in ethylene propylene diene monomer/natural rubber nanocomposites through Ti₃C₂T_X reinforcement and EPDM-g-MAH compatibilization

This research explores elastomeric nanocomposites consisting of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber/natural rubber (NR/EPDM) in various ratios (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100 phr). The study incorporates EPDM grafted maleic anhydride (EPDM-g-MAH) as a compatibilizer, along with different quantities of Ti₃C₂T_X reinforcement (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 phr). To assess the dispersion and morphology of Ti₃C₂T_X reinforcement in the NR/EPDM matrix, this study employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These analyses revealed that, in the presence of EPDM-g-MAH, higher Ti₃C₂T_X concentrations led to rougher fracture surfaces in the samples, indicating the excellent dispersion of Ti₃C₂T_X in the NR/EPDM matrix. The investigation of mechanical and rheological properties demonstrated significant enhancements with increasing Ti₃C₂T_X concentration in conjunction with EPDM-g-MAH. The study further explored the relationships between the nanocomposites' morphology and their theoretical and experimental mechanical properties through Mori-Tanaka analysis and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), respectively. These analyses revealed a strong correlation between theory and experimentation. The mechanical behavior of the composites exhibited notable improvements in tensile strength, hardness, modulus, elongation at break, and fatigue strength with the addition of Ti₃C₂T_X, particularly in the presence of EPDM-g-MAH. Ultimately, our findings highlight the compatibility between theoretical analyses and experimental outcomes, validating the efficacy of Ti₃C₂T_X incorporation in enhancing the properties of nanocomposites.