Abstract： The modified attapulgite clay was prepared by the method of ball milling modification in solution. Attapulgite clay-carbon black-natural rubber composites were prepared by the method of mechanically compounding. Effect of interaction between attapulgite clay and carbon black on natural rubber was researched. The results show that the modification effect of Si11-110 type silane coupling agent on attapulgite clay is good. Obvious synergistic effect exists between the attapulgite clay and carbon black. The modified attapulgite clay -carbon black -natural rubber composites can significantly increase the stretching strength of 100% and 300% , tensile strength, elongation at break and cut resistant property of composites. The rubber composites synergistically reinforced by silicone modified attapulgite clay and carbon black can obviously improve the network structure of the composites, which can make them have greater storage modulus. Rubber molecular chains are more likely to slip and unwrap in combination with the rubber surface by increase the thickness of bound rubber, which effectively increases the tensile strength and elongation at break.

Keywords: attapulgite clay; natural rubber; surface modification; bound rubber; network structure