ABSTRACT
Crumb rubber represents a series hazardous waste that causes environmental pollution that needs to be treated. Such a problem consumes a high budget in controlling its consequences. The main objective of this study is to get maximum benefit from this waste and use it as a filler in green processing to obtain useful materials such as heat insulators. Thus, the black filler was removed from the natural rubber mixes and crumb rubber from waste in different ratios was used instead to form rubber composite that contains a small amount of organo modified nanoclay to maintain the mechanical properties of the vulcanized rubber composites. A controlling mix containing black carbon filler was used to compare the obtained results from crumb/NR nanocomposites. These mixes were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and the graphs revealed that at higher ratios of crumb rubber in the mix, crumb forms a dispersible network within the rubber blend matrix which enhances the miscibility between the rubber and all other ingredients. TGA data indicated high thermal stability of all crumb/NR nanocomposites. All results showed that the addition of crumb to natural rubber nanocomposites enhanced the levels of the properties especially for the mix of the ratio 4:6 for crumb:natural rubber. Results of thermal conductivity measurements assured that such mix acts as an insulating material and may be used in constructural applications for shielding purposes.