Natural rubber composites containing smectite clay, methods of manufacture and uses thereof

摘要

Materials of natural rubber incorporating smectite clay particles such as hectorite and bentonite, method of preparing said materials, articles of manufacture made from the materials and method of using the materials are described. The composite materials of the present invention have improved physical properties such as modulus, elasticity, and especially improved coefficient of friction and both dry and wet or slurry abrasion resistance. The materials of the present invention have both increased coefficient of friction and abrasion resistance.