1) Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
2) Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

A novel technology to prepare styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites was developed by combining a spray drying method and a subsequent mechanical mixing process. The cross-linking degrees of the vulcanized composites increased gradually with the additive CNTs contents. By comparing with those of the pure SBR composites, the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear strength and hardness of the composites filled with CNTs at certain contents were dramatically improved almost by 600%, 250% and 70%, respectively. The fabrication of the CNTs filled with SBR composites by combination of the spray drying method and subsequent mechanical mixing process was effective for enhancing the reinforcement effects of CNTs in rubbers. The novel technology can also open a new route for the modification and reinforcement on the nanocomposites with large amount of CNTs.

the Foundation of Cadreman Talent Support Project of Tsinghua University, China (053288002)