Fuller's Earth Clay—Naturally Abundant, Environmentally Benign and a Low Cost Nano‐Rod Shaped Clay Explored as a Potential Reinforcing Filler for Natural Rubber Latex

ABSTRACT The use of naturally abundant and unmodified Fuller's Earth (FE) nanoclay as a reinforcing nanofiller in prevulcanized natural rubber (PVNR) latex is explored in this work. Initially, the FE nanoclay has been extensively characterized for its chemical composition, structural, and morphological characteristics. PVNR/FE nanoclay composites with varying amounts of FE nanoclay have been prepared by a simple water‐based solution‐mixing method. Morphological analysis and structural analysis of the PVNR/FE nanoclay composites have been carried out to assess the dispersion and distribution of FE nanoclay in the PVNR matrix. A notable increment in the mechanical properties has been observed up to a certain loading of FE nanoclay, which corroborates its reinforcing effect in the PVNR matrix. Nevertheless, at higher concentrations of FE nanoclay, the rod‐shaped FE nanoclay particles start to aggregate in the PVNR matrix and consequently, the overall mechanical properties of the PVNR/FE nanoclay composites start to decrease. An increment in the glass transition temperature ( T g ) and the room temperature storage modulus ( G ′) of PVNR has been observed with the incorporation of FE nanoclay, which is attributed to the enhanced interactions between the PVNR rubber chains and the FE nanoclay particles. The TGA studies confirm that the PVNR/FE nanoclay composites show a reasonable increase in the thermal stability with the increase in the concentration of the FE nanoclay. This study clearly justifies the possibility of using the abundantly available unmodified FE nanoclay as an eco‐friendly and cost‐effective potential alternative nanoclay to other expensive and/or environmentally hazardous unmodified/modified nanoclays.