The Effect of Nanoclay Particles on the Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Polyamide 12 and Waste Rubber Composites

ABSTRACT Recycling discarded rubber is essential for environmental preservation and human health. The study examines the improvement of end‐use properties by combining old rubber with thermoplastics in thermoplastic/waste rubber composites, produced using a Haake Rheomix 600 mixer with organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT), polyamide 12 (PA12), and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). It reveals that at a 2% OMMT mass fraction, the PA12/OMMT nanocomposite displays solid‐like characteristics. A threshold is identified around 2% clay mass fraction, differentiating stable Young's modulus from declines in properties at higher mass fractions, while lower fractions enhance mechanical characteristics. The study also notes that the ternary nanocomposite's EPDM slightly disrupts the binary's percolation network, and a small decrease in the glass transition temperature ( T g ) indicates improved interfacial interactions, enhancing Young's modulus. The ability of OMMT to act as a dispersing agent comprises the study's main breakthrough. Overall, the ternary nanocomposite demonstrates comparable Young's modulus to the binary version, underscoring the potential for recycling rubber waste.