A complex of resorcinol and hexamethylenetetramine (RH)
was utilized to modify nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC).
The modified NCC (MNCC) was then mixed with natural
rubber (NR) filled silica. The structure, processing proper-
ties, mechanical properties, and dynamic compression
fatigue properties of the NR/MNCC/Silica nanocompo-
sites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), rubber processing analyzer, electronic tensile
machine, and dynamic compression fatigue performance
tester. The results showed that the processing properties,
mechanical properties, and dynamic compression fatigue
properties of NR/MNCC/Silica nanocomposites were sub-
stantially improved over NR/Silica composites. Their bet-
ter performances in terms of processing, mechanical
properties, heat build-up, and permanent set were corre-
lated to the better dispersion of MNCC and stronger inter-
face interaction between NR and MNCC than NR/Silica
composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:861–868, 2015. V C 2014
Society of Plastics Engineers