Compatibility studies on some polymer blend systems by electrical and mechanical techniques

Systematic electrical and mechanical studies were carried out on natural rubber (NR) blended with different types of synthetic rubber such as styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (BR), and ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) as nonpolar rubbers and nitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) and chloroprene rubber (CR) as polar rubbers. The NR/SBR, NR/BR, NR/EPDM, NR/NBR, and NR/CR blends were prepared with different ratios (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, and 0/100). The permittivity (ε′) and dielectric loss (ε″) of these blends were measured over a wide range of frequencies (100 Hz–100 kHz) and at room temperature (∼ 27°C). The compatibility results obtained from the dielectric measurements were comparable with those obtained from the calculation of the heat of mixing. These results were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and showed that NR/SBR and NR/BR blends were compatible while NR/EPDM, NR/NBR, and NR/CR blends were incompatible. To overcome the problem of phase separation (incompatibility) between NR and EPDM, NBR, or CR, a third component such as SBR or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was added as a compatibilizing agent to these blends. The experimental data of dielectric and mechanical measurements showed that the addition of either SBR or PVC could improve the compatibility of such blends to some extent. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 60–71, 2001     

绢英粉对橡胶硫化参数与力学性能的效应

探索了绢英粉（12份）填充的多种橡胶的硫化参数、力学性能相对于纯胶的相应变化。表明这些变化因胶种而异,IIR、EPDM、CPE和CSM缩短了ts与t90;NR、SBR和NBR则相反;NR、CR和CSM的拉伸强度、撕裂强度下降;SBR等无自补性能橡胶则有些增大。     

高岭土填充橡胶共混物的性能及表征

以一种高岭土为增强相,分别填充天然橡胶、丁苯橡胶、顺丁橡胶、丁腈橡胶、三元乙丙橡胶、氯丁橡胶和硅橡胶,制备高岭土/橡胶复合材料,通过力学和热老化性能测试、红外光谱和偏光显微镜测试分析,确定了高岭土在各种橡胶中填充的最佳配比,研究高岭土的用量对橡胶力学性能、热老化性能和相容性上的影响,并与白炭黑填充橡胶进行比较。实验表明,除扯断伸长率外,高岭土/橡胶具有优异的力学和耐热性能,高岭土与橡胶有较好的相容性,且适合刚性橡胶的补强。     

Adhesive tack and green strength of EPDM rubber

Measurement of tack of EPDM (ethylene-propylenediene terpolymer) rubber with natural rubber (NR) of four different molecular weights, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR), bromobutyl rubber (BIIR), and polychloroprene rubber (CR) was done over a range of rates of testing, contact times, and temperatures of contact. The effect of different additives, namely carbon black, phenol-formaldehyde resin, coumarone-indene resin, and methyl methacrylate is also reported. Green strength of all the rubbers was measured. Tack strength increases with increase in contact time for all the rubbers. Adhesive tack between EPDM and low-molecular-weight NR is much higher than that between EPDM and NR of high molecular weight. Tack strength of EPDM with BIIR is the highest among the tack values obtained for synthetic rubbers. The adhesive tack between EPDM and natural/ synthetic rubber passes through a maximum when plotted against temperature of contact. It increases with testing rate. All these phenomena could be explained in terms of interdiffusion of rubber chains under different conditions and solubility parameter of two contacting rubbers. It was observed that tack strength varies with (contact time)^1/2 and (rate)^1/2 in accordance with the reptation theory. Phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF) or coumarone-indene (CI) resin in EPDM improves the tack strength quite significantly. The resin in the NR phase does not have a marked effect. The presence of carbon black decreases adhesive tack strength between EPDM and NR. The surface of EPDM, however, becomes smoother with the addition of the additives. Peel tests and commercial tack tests give similar results in the tack strength between EPDM/NR and EPDM/SBR.     

Effect of carbon nanotubes with different lengths on mechanical and electrical properties of silica-filled styrene butadiene rubber compounds

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having three different lengths of 5, 30, and 100 μm were added to silica-filled styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds in order to investigate the effect of the CNT addition on the dynamic and electrical properties. The amounts of CNTs were 1, 2, 4, and 7 phr, while the amount of silica was set high at 80 phr to clearly demonstrate the performance of the CNTs as fillers. The effect of CNTs on the silica-filled SBR compounds on the tensile properties is not significant, but the addition of longer CNTs with high loading severely deteriorated the dynamic properties, but considerably enhanced electrical conductivity. The medium loading of CNTs in silica-filled SBR compounds is suitable for the improvement of the electrical conductivity without severely sacrificing the dynamic properties.     

Electron beam irradiation of polycarbonate reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene rubber

The effects of electron beam irradiation and polycarbonate (PC) concentration on the properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) were investigated. The electron beam irradiation doses were from 25 to 150 kGy, whereas the PC contents were from 10 to 30 phr. It was found that the mechanical properties of NBR such as tensile strength (TS), hardness and tear strength (Ts) were remarkably improved by the incorporation of PC, while elongation at break (E_b) and thermal properties were decreased. However, the improvement in TS of NBR/PC blends was strongly dependant on PC content, in which maximum improvements need higher doses. On the other hand, the maximum value of Ts for all the blend ratios was at 25 kGy, whereas the hardness increases with increasing irradiation dose. Moreover, it was observed that the fuel resistance of NBR/PC was higher than NBR and decreases by increasing the content of PC.     

新型白炭黑改性橡胶研究

采用2种新型白炭黑替代常用白炭黑来改性天然橡胶（NR）、顺丁橡胶（BR）、丁笨橡胶（SBR）、三元乙丙橡胶（EPDM）、丙烯酸酯橡胶（ACM）和硅橡胶。研究不同用量和不同种类的白炭黑对上述几种橡胶进行改性,通过对硬度、扯断伸长率、拉伸强度、磨耗和耐老化性能的测试,确定白炭黑的最佳用量和最适宜的种类。结果表明：白炭黑填料用量为80份时效果最好,普通白炭黑适合做EPDM的补强剂,碱法白炭黑对NR、SBR和ACM的改性效果更好,而酸法白炭黑改性的橡胶拉伸强度和硬度很小,不适于补强;白炭黑对硅橡胶的改性效果不好,得到的产品硬度很小,无法进行力学性能测试。     

Infrared spectroscopy evidence for the hydrosilylation of rubbers and hydrogen-containing polysiloxane via heat processing

The hydrosilylation reaction is very important in silicone-introducing reactions and in the crosslinking of silicone rubbers. In this study, through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the hydrosilylation reaction between hydrogen-containing polysiloxane (H-PDMS) and several kinds of rubber, including styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR), chloroprene rubber (CR), and natural rubber (NR), with heat processing was researched. The IR spectra of each compound film were determined after reaction with H-PDMS under 110°C for different times. Through the quantitative estimation of the progress of the hydrosilylation reaction in the course of the heat processing, we established a method for calculating the changes of the peak areas of the Si H bond and vinyl groups of each sample at each reaction time and computed the ratio of the integral area of Si H and CC to that of each compound. The Si H content decreased 85 and 30% in SBR–Si and NBR–Si, respectively. However, the ratio of the integral area of transmittance of Si H in NR–Si and CR–Si changed very little during the whole process. The Si H content decreased less than 20% in NR–Si and CR–Si. All ratios of the integral area of transmittance of the vinyl groups (R_Vinyl) of each compound decreased as the reaction time increased at 110°C; the decrease values were very small. The rates of all R_Vinyl decreases were slow, and the decreasing sequence was the same as the order of decreasing Si H content. The hydrosilylation reaction between H-PDMS and SBR was quite smooth in the heat processing and better than that between H-PDMS and NBR. The hydrosilylation reactions of H-PDMS with NR and CR were less satisfying. The results show that polyolefin rubbers can be modified or crosslinked by H-PDMS via heat processing. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Macroporous rubber gels as reusable sorbents for the removal of oil from surface waters

Macroporous organogels were prepared by solution crosslinking various rubbers in benzene at ?18 °C. Butyl rubber (PIB), cis-polybutadiene (CBR) and styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) were used as the rubber components, while sulfur monochloride was the crosslinker in the gel preparation. The organogel networks consist of large pores of 10¹–10² μm in size caused by the benzene crystals acting as a template during gelation. The networks formed by CBR and SBR showed an aligned porous structure consisting of regular pores, whereas those derived from PIB had irregular pores with a broad pore size distribution due to the phase separation of PIB chains at low temperatures. All organogels were very tough and could be completely compressed without any crack development. Sorption tests showed that the organogels were efficient at removing crude oil, gasoline, diesel, fuel oil and olive oil. The organogels are reusable once they are squeezed, leading to continuous sorption capacities of CBR or SBR gels for crude oil and olive oil of 33–38 g/g and 24–27 g/g, respectively. These sorption capacities are two to three times the capacity of the gels derived from PIB.     

Thermoplastic dynamic vulcanisates containing LDPE,rubber, and thermochemically reclaimed ground tyre rubber

Abstract

Thermochemically devulcanised ground tyre rubber (GTR^DL) was added to fresh rubber compositions, which were then melt blended with low density polyethylene (LDPE). Styrene/butadiene rubber (SBR), natural (NR), and ethylene/propylene/diene (EPDM) rubbers were selected as the fresh rubbers. During blending, dynamic curing was achieved using sulphuric, phenolic, and peroxide curing agents. Some of the GTR was decomposed in the presence of 6 phr Regen^TM Agent-S reclaiming compound before being incorporated into the blends. The resulting thermoplastic dynamic vulcanisates had constant compositions, namely LDPE/rubber/GTR=50:25:25. Sulphuric and phenolic curing agents proved to be most suitable for dynamic curing. The thermoplastic dynamic vulcanisates with the best mechanical performance contained SBR and EPDM rubbers. The observed improvements in mechanical performance were attributed to chain entanglement and co-crosslinking in the interphase between the GTR^DL particles and the surrounding matrix (i.e. with the fresh rubber and/or LDPE). The phase morphology, which was assessed using scanning electron microscopy on the etched surfaces of cryogenically fractured thermoplastic dynamic vulcanisate compositions, is discussed.     

Microwave absorbing properties of a thermally reduced graphene oxide/nitrile butadiene rubber composite

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with a layered and porous structure was synthesized by thermal exfoliation of graphite oxide. Synthesized RGO is very light weight and flaky. The formation of RGO was studied using Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Composites were prepared by dispersing 2%, 4% and 10% by weight of the synthesized RGO into nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix. Microwave absorption properties of RGO/NBR composites were investigated by measuring their complex permittivity and permeability by using waveguide method. Simulation studies show that 10 wt.% of graphene oxide in NBR matrix exhibits high values of reflection loss (>10 dB) over a wide frequency range 7.5–12 GHz and maximum loss is 57 dB at 9.6 GHz at a thickness of 3 mm.     

Influence of solvent penetration on the electrical conductance of pre-extended FEF carbon black-loaded rubbers

The penetration of organic solvent and its influence on the electrical conductance of pre-extended styrene butadiene (SBR), butadiene (BR), acrylonitrile butadiene (NBR), butyl (IIR), and natural (NR) rubbers are investigated. A model is proposed for a process by which it is possible to estimate the separation distance between carbon black particles (or aggregates) and its dependence on the extent of penetration of the liquid. An empirical formula is suggested to describe the variation of the conductance of rubber composites with swelling time in terms of the interspacing distance.     

Effect of silanized silica nanofiller on tack and green strength of selected filled rubbers

BACKGROUND: Tack and green strength of filled and gum (unfilled) natural rubber (NR), poly(styrene‐co‐butadiene) rubber (SBR), polybutadiene rubber (BR) and (SBR‐BR) blend with different loadings of reinforcement agent, silanized silica nanofiller (Coupsil 8113), were studied and the results compared and discussed. RESULTS: It was found that silica was fully dispersed in rubber matrix after 13 min of mixing. In addition, with some exceptions for NR and (SBR‐BR) blend, filler loading decreased the tack strength of the studied filled rubbers. Green strength and Mooney viscosity increased with filler loading for all studied filled rubbers but with different rates and amounts. The optimum filler loadings for NR and (SBR‐BR) filled blend were 30 and 10 phr, respectively. Tacks of NR filled rubbers were much higher than those of synthetic filled rubbers. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that filler loading alters substantially the tack and green strength of the rubbers under investigation. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

橡胶再生剂A及其应用

橡胶再生剂A可以使硫化胶的交联键断裂。同时限制氧化作用对橡胶高分子主链的侵害。橡胶再生剂A适用于硫黄硫化的NR，SBR，BR，NBR，IIR，EPDM和CR硫化胶的再生。原材料可以是焦烧胶、硫化流失胶边和不合格的硫化制品，复原胶生产工艺简单。在常温下用开炼机或精炼机即可。而且生产过程中无污染。     

Quantitative characterization of interfaces in rubber–rubber blends by means of modulated‐temperature DSC

Rubber–rubber blends are used widely in industry, for example, in tire manufacture. It is often difficult to characterize interfaces in such rubber–rubber blends quantitatively because of the similarity in the chemical structure of the component rubbers. Here, a new method was suggested for the measurement of the weight fraction of the interface in rubber–rubber blends using modulated‐temperature differential scanning calorimetry (M‐TDSC). Quantitative analysis using the differential of the heat capacity, dCp/dT, versus the temperature signal from M‐TDSC allows the weight fraction of the interface to be calculated. As examples, polybutadiene rubber (BR)–natural rubber (NR), BR–styrene‐co‐butadiene rubber (SBR), SBR–NR, and nitrile rubber (NBR)–NR blend systems were analyzed. The interfacial content in these blends was obtained. SBR is partially miscible with BR. The cis‐structure content in BR has an obvious effect on the extent of mixing in the SBR–BR blends. With increasing styrene content in the SBR in the SBR–BR blends, the interface content decreases. NR is partially miscible with both BR and SBR. The NBR used in this research is essentially immiscible with NR. The maximum amount of interface was found to be at the 50:50 blend composition in BR–NR, SBR–BR, and SBR–NR systems. Quantitative analysis of interfaces in these blend systems is reported for the first time. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 1791–1798, 2000     

Preparation and characterization of acrylonitrile–styrene–methylmethacrylate terpolymer as a compatibilizer for rubber blends

Acrylonitrile‐co‐styrene‐co‐methylmethacrylate (AN‐S‐MMA) terpolymer was prepared by bulk and emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization techniques. The bulk and emulsion terpolymers were characterized by means of Fourierr transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, thermal gravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. The kinetics of the terpolymerization were studied. The terpolymers were then incorporated into butadiene—acrylonitrile rubber (NBR)/ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) blends and into chloroprene rubber (CR)/EPDM blend. The terpolymers were then tested for potential as compatibilizers by using scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The terpolymers improved the compatibility of CR/EPDM and NBR/EPDM blends. The physicomechanical properties of CR/EPDM and NBR/EPDM blend vulcanizates revealed that the incorporation of terpolymers was advantageous, since they resulted in blend vulcanizates with higher 100% moduli and with more thermally stable mechanical properties than the individual rubbers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3143–3153, 2003     

Composites based on CB/CF/Ag filled EPDM/NBR rubber blends with high conductivity

For many applications of conductive rubbers, it is desirable to endow the conductive rubber with high conductivity at low conductive filler loading. In this work, composites based on ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and nitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) were prepared using carbon blacks, carbon fibers, and silver powders as fillers. As the weight fraction of silver powder increased, the hardness of composites increased gradually while the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased. SEM revealed that the EPDM/NBR blends exhibited a relatively co‐continuous morphology. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves reported the EPDM/NBR rubber blends were incompatibility. The thermogravimetry (TG) studies showed that adding a small amount of silver powder could improve the thermal stability of composites. These conductive composites exhibited good electrical property. At room temperature, when the total volume fraction of fillers was 15.20%, the volume resistivity of EPDM/NBR blend was only 0.0058 Ω cm. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41357.     

Design and preparation of cross‐linked α‐methylstyrene‐acrylonitrile copolymer nano‐particles for elastomer reinforcement

Crosslinked α‐methylstyrene and acrylonitrile (MStAN) copolymer particles in a latex form were synthesized by free radical emulsion polymerization. The particles took a spherical shape with an average size of 53.1 nm in a narrow distribution. When filled into styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR), nitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR), and natural rubber (NR), the MStAN nano‐particles exhibited excellent reinforcing capabilities and the best in NBR. By the employment of heat treatment, mechanical properties of the MStAN‐filled SBR composites had got remarkable further improvements. But mechanical properties, together with the morphology, of the MStAN‐filled NBR composites, varied little after heat treatment, which, however, divulged the naturally good compatibility between the MStAN particles and the NBR matrix. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

用废短纤维／橡胶复合材料制备纤维增强胶料

用废短纤维／橡胶复合材料，按ＣＮ８９１０５６５２．１技术处理制得４种ＳＦＲＣ母料。试验表明，其中ＳＦＲＣ２性能为最优，并分别与ＮＲ，ＢＲ，ＳＢＲ，ＮＢＲ，ＣＲ，ＩＩＲ等６种橡胶并用制得的纤维增强胶料，以ＮＲ为最好；用２种橡胶比ＳＦＲＣ２共混可改善加工行为，其胶料可制作Ｖ带，胶管，输送带，胶鞋等制品。     

A comparative study on curing characteristics and thermomechanical properties of elastomeric nanocomposites: The effects of eggshell and calcium carbonate nanofillers

After‐hatching eggshell (AHES) nanobiofiller and nanocalcium carbonate (nano‐CA) were separately added to various elastomers, such as acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), and natural rubber (NR), in various amounts of 5, 10, and 15 phr. The effect of particle size and dispersion of such nanofillers on thermomechanical properties and curing characteristics were then investigated. The ultimate tensile properties of SBR and NR nanocomposites were improved to some extent when 5 phr of AHES nanofiller was added to the rubber compound compared to CA. In the case of NBR nanocompounds, however, the mechanical properties were seemingly comparable, irrespective of the type of nanofiller. This contradictive behavior could be attributed to the alteration of crosslink density due to particular filler–matrix interaction while using mineral and natural fillers. The results of the rheometric study revealed that using AHES rather than CA slightly increases the scorch time of all types of prepared nanocomposites, whereas a significant drop in the optimum curing time was seen for NBR nanocomposites containing AHES biofiller. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis showed similar thermal stability for SBR nanocomposites containing AHES and CA fillers. Finer particle size of CA and higher porosity of AHES at high and low loading levels were respectively the main reasons for improvement of ultimate properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013