Barrier Properties of Rubber Nanocomposites

One of the unique characteristics of rubber nanocomposites is the barrier performance. Some important rubber engineering products used in high performance applications, for example, tire inner-tubes, air springs and cure bladders, etc. demand a high barrier to gas permeation. The barrier property depends on not only the nature of rubber structure but also the type of additive such as nanofillers. For this purpose, the uniform dispersion of the nanofillers is a key controlling factor for maximizing the effect on the barrier property. This chapter will review the recent advances in this area focusing on the theoretical, experimental achievements along with possible applications.