The SEM micrographs of the tensile fractured surface of
raw OPA filled NR composites and LENR-coated OPA filled
NR composites are shown in Fig. 7. It can be clearly seen
that the LENR-coated OPA (Fig. 7b and d) was wellembedded
in the natural rubber matrix, compared to the
raw OPA filled NR composites (Fig. 7a and c). It was interesting
to note that the bridging rubber chain that penetrated
the OPA could be observed in the LENR-coated OPA
filled NR composites at 1 phr and even at 7 phr LENRcoated
OPA loading. This indicates why higher tensile
strength and elongation at breakwas observed when LENRcoated
OPA was added into the NR matrix.