Effect of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles on the Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber/Styrene–Butadiene Rubber Blends Reinforced with Carbon Black and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Al-Jlaihawi, Zaid Ghalib Abdulkadhim; Ghani, Suadad Noori; Alturaihi, Muna Hameed

doi:10.22060/ajme.2026.24943.6236

Effect of Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles on the Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber/Styrene–Butadiene Rubber Blends Reinforced with Carbon Black and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Zaid Ghalib Abdulkadhim Al-Jlaihawi

Suadad Noori Ghani

Muna Hameed Alturaihi

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq

10.22060/ajme.2026.24943.6236

Abstract

This study investigated the reinforcing effect of aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles, used individually and as hybrid fillers, on the mechanical performance of natural rubber/styrene–butadiene rubber vulcanizates reinforced with carbon black. The composites were fabricated by conventional compounding and compression molding following ASTM standards. Mechanical performance was evaluated through tensile strength, compression set, hardness, and scanning electron microscopy. A total of 100 specimens were prepared and classified into two groups according to nanoparticle loading. The results demonstrated that hybrid incorporation of aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles produced superior reinforcement compared with the use of titanium dioxide alone. The optimum formulation, containing 10 parts per hundred rubber of aluminum oxide and 8 parts per hundred rubber of titanium dioxide, achieved the highest tensile strength of 27.93 ± 0.71 MPa and the maximum hardness of 72 ± 5 International Rubber Hardness Degrees. The lowest compression set (19.65 ± 1.60%) was obtained with titanium dioxide alone, whereas the hybrid system maintained a low compression set (24.66 ± 1.30%) while simultaneously providing substantial improvements in tensile strength and hardness. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a uniform nanoparticle distribution with limited agglomeration and good interfacial adhesion, explaining the enhanced mechanical behavior. These findings demonstrate that hybrid aluminum oxide–titanium dioxide nanoparticles are effective reinforcing fillers for high-performance rubber composites.

Keywords

NR-SBR blend

Alumina

Titania

Hybrid Nanocomposites

Carbon blacks

Subjects