Effects of ground rubber having different curing systems on the crosslink structures and physical properties of NR vulcanizates

From extensive work on the properties of ground rubber (GR) filled compounds, it could be expected that cure behavior and physical properties of GR filled vulcanizates depend on the kind of rubber and curing agents used in rubber matrix and GR. The effects of conventional, semi-efficient and efficient curing systems of rubber matrix and GR on cure behavior and physical properties of GR filled vulcanizates are investigated. In addition, the variations of crosslink densities and structures of rubber matrix and GR are measured. The features studied strongly depended on the curing systems used in rubber matrix and GR.     

Morphology and strength of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene welds performed by robotic friction stir welding

The aim of this study is to examine the main factors affecting friction stir welding (FSW) of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plates, performed by a robotic system developed to this purpose. Welds were carried out using a tool with stationary shoulder and an external heating system. The welding parameters studied were the axial force, rotational and traverse speeds and temperature of the tool. The major novelty is to perform FSW of a polymer in a robotic system and to study the influence of the axial force on weld quality. In a robotic solution the control of axial force allows to eliminate robot positional errors and guarantee the contact between the FSW tool and the work pieces. Strength and strain properties of the welds are evaluated and correlated with the morphology of the welded zone. A comparison between welds produced in the robotic FSW system and in a dedicated FSW machine is presented. It is shown the feasibility of robotic FSW of ABS without deteriorating the mechanical properties of the welds in relation to those produced in the dedicated FSW machine.     

Polyfuran,polythiophene and their blend as novel antioxidants for styrene- butadiene rubber vulcanizates

Polyfuran (PF) and polythiophene (PT) were prepared by chemical oxidation, their blend was prepared by mechanical mixing of the two polymers. The prepared polymers and their blend were characterized by viscometric polydispersity, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). PF, PT and PF/PT blend were incorporated in Styrene–Butadiene Rubber (SBR) mixes and the rheometric characteristics were determined using an oscillating disc rheometer. The prepared polymers and their blend were evaluated as antioxidants for SBR vulcanizates. The physico-mechanical properties of SBR vulcanizates were measured before and after exposure to accelerated thermo-oxidative aging. The results revealed that the prepared polymers and their blend are efficient antioxidants for SBR vulcanizates in comparison with p-maleiyl phenylene amide polymer and polymerized 2,2,4-trimethyl-12dihydroquinoline (TMQ), the antioxidant used in industry. On the other hand, PF/PT blend showed better results than the individual polymers.     

Effect of friction stir welding parameters on morphology and strength of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plate welds

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of main friction stir welding (FSW) parameters on the quality of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plate welds. Welds were carried out in a FSW machine, using a tool with a stationary shoulder and no external heating system. The welding parameters studied were the tool rotational speed which varied between 1000 and 1500 (rpm); the traverse speed which varied between 50 and 200 (mm/min), and the axial force ranging from 0.75 to 4 (kN). The major novelty is to study the influence of the parameter axial force on FSW of polymers. Produced welds have always a tensile strength below the base material, reaching the maximum efficiencies of above 60 (%) for welds made with higher rotational speed and axial force. Good quality welds are achieved without using external heating, when the tool rotational speed and axial force are above a certain threshold. Above that threshold the formation of cavities and porosity in the retreating side of the stir zone is avoided and the weld region is very uniform and smooth. For low rotational speed and axial force welds have poor material mixing at the retreating side and voids at the nugget. For this reason the strain at break of these welded plates is low when compared with that of base material.     

Effect of synthesized zinc stearate on the properties of natural rubber vulcanizates in the absence and presence of some fillers

Zinc stearate was synthesized by precipitation method through two steps; neutralization of stearic acid by sodium hydroxide then double decomposition using zinc sulphate to precipitate zinc stearate. Mass balances of the two steps were calculated and the physical properties of the prepared zinc stearate were measured and compared to standard. It was characterized and incorporated it into natural rubber in the absence and presence of some filler through mixing process of rubber. The vulcanization process was carried out at 142 °C. The rheological properties of natural rubber mixes were measured using oscillating disc rheometer. The plysico-mechanical properties of the vulcanizates were determined using tensile testing machine. It was found that, partial and complete replacement of synthesized zinc stearate instead of the conventional zinc oxide and stearic acid; enhanced the physico-mechanical properties of natural rubber. The measured reinforcing parameter value α_f can be arranged according to the type of filler as follows:     

纳米石墨片-羧基丁腈橡胶复合材料结构形态与电性能

利用电子束辐照法制备纳米石墨片(GnPs)-羧基丁腈橡胶(XNBR)复合材料,研究辐射剂量对胶乳共混体系稳定性的影响,并对GnPs-XNBR复合材料的交联度、热稳定性、电性能及其形貌予以表征。结果表明:辐照后GnPs-XNBR复合材料的交联度、热稳定性和体积电阻率提高,而共混乳液的稳定性显著降低。辐照强化了乳胶粒子与石墨片之间的界面结合,形成胶乳粒子包覆石墨片的核-壳结构,进而提高石墨片在基体中分散均匀性,并使GnPs-XNBR复合材料的热稳定性和介电常数提高,导电性和介电损耗降低。     

Superior mechanical and electrical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene high performance composites

In-house synthesized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been dispersed in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) using a micro twin-screw extruder with back flow channel. The electrical and mechanical properties of MWCNTs in ABS with different wt% have been studied. Incorporation of only 3 wt. % MWCNTs in ABS leads to significant enhancement in the tensile strength (up to 69.4 MPa) which was equivalent to 29% increase over pure ABS. The effect of MWCNTs on the structural behaviour of ABS under tensile loading showed a ductile to brittle transition with increase concentration of MWCNTs. The results of enhanced mechanical properties were well supported by micro Raman spectroscopic and scanning electron microscopic studies. In addition to the mechanical properties, electrical conductivity of these composites increased from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁵ Scm⁻¹ showing an improvement of ∼7 orders of magnitude. Due to significant improvement in the electrical conductivity, EMI shielding effectiveness of the composites is achieved up to −39 dB for 10 wt. % loaded MWCNTs/ABS indicating the usefulness of this material for EMI shielding in the Ku-band. The mechanism of improvement in EMI shielding effectiveness is discussed by resolving their contribution in absorption and reflection loss. This material can be used as high-strength EMI shielding material.     

有机蒙脱土/丁腈橡胶-聚氯乙烯隔声复合材料的制备及性能

轻质隔声材料一直是隔声功能材料的研究热点.本研究以NBR-PVC为基料,通过纳米有机蒙脱土(OMMT)填充改性制备了有机蒙脱土/丁腈橡胶-聚氯乙烯隔声材料,并探讨了纳米有机蒙脱土添加量对材料面密度、力学性能、阻尼性能和隔声性能的影响.实验结果表明,当OMMT质量含量为3.73%时,OMMT/NBR-PVC复合材料的弹性模量、拉伸强度、断裂伸长率及阻尼性能综合最佳,其隔声指数可达32.6 dB.     

环保型水切割胶粉对天然橡胶力学性能和动态性能的影响

采用环保型水切割胶粉及力化学改性胶粉（MRP）与天然橡胶（NR）复合制备胶粉-NR复合胶,并探讨了胶粉用量对复合胶力学性能和动态性能的影响。通过红外和热失重分析确定了胶粉的主要成分为NR和丁苯橡胶（SBR）,且改性后胶粉大分子链结构未发生明显变化。通过橡胶加工分析仪研究了胶粉用量及改性对复合胶加工性能的影响。采用炭黑分散仪研究并观察了胶粉在NR中的分散情况。结果表明,胶粉改性后与NR的相容性提高,二者界面结合力增大,MRP-NR复合胶加工性能改善。炭黑分散结果表明,胶粉用量越多,其分散性越差,改性后胶粉的分散性提高,MRP-NR复合胶的力学性能最优,拉伸强度为27.9 MPa。     

Effect of expanded graphite and modified graphite flakes on the physical and thermo-mechanical properties of styrene butadiene rubber/polybutadiene rubber (SBR/BR) blends

The aim of the present research work is to develop expanded graphite (EG) and isocyanate modified graphite nanoplatelets (i-MG) filled SBR/BR blends, which can substitute natural rubber (NR) in some application areas. The present study investigated the effect of i-MG on the physical, mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of polybutadiene rubber (BR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and SBR/BR blends in the presence of carbon black (CB). Graphite sheets were modified to enhance its dispersion in the rubber matrices, which resulting in an improvement in the overall physical and mechanical properties of the rubber vulcanizates. Compounds based on 50:50 of BR and SBR with ∼3 wt% nanofillers with CB were fabricated by melt mixing. The morphology of the filled rubber blends was investigated by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM) analyses. The intercalated and delaminated structures of the nanofiller loaded rubber blends were observed. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the cryo-fractured surfaces of the rubber compounds showed more rough and tortuous pathway of the fractured surfaces compared to the fractured surfaces of the only CB loaded rubber composites. Filled rubber compounds exhibit increase in the ΔS (torque difference) value, reduced scorch and cure time compared to their respective controls. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) of the filled rubber compounds shows an increase in the storage modulus compared to the controls. Isocyanate modified graphite nanoplatelets (i-MG) containing rubber compounds in the presence of CB showed an increase in the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, hardness, abrasion resistance and thermal properties compared to the alone CB filled rubber vulcanizates.     

膨胀型阻燃剂对硫化天然胶乳胶膜力学性能和阻燃性能的影响

以聚磷酸铵(APP)、季戊四醇(PER)和三聚氰铵(MEL)组成膨胀型阻燃体系(IFR),考察阻燃剂配比及用量对硫化天然胶乳力学性能和阻燃性能的影响,并通过热重分析仪分析其热稳定性、扫描电镜(SEM)分析阻燃剂在胶乳中的分散效果。结果表明,添加PER和MEL的硫化胶膜力学性能很好,但阻燃性能较差;添加APP和IFR的硫化胶膜力学性能较差,但是阻燃性能很好;SEM观察发现APP与橡胶相容性差;热失重分析可知,改性的硫化胶膜比未改性的硫化胶膜的阻燃性好,且IFR改性硫化胶膜的阻燃效果是最好。     

氧化石墨烯/天然橡胶-丁腈橡胶复合材料的制备与性能

为研究氧化石墨烯（GO）对共混橡胶的补强改性作用,首先,通过改进的Hummers方法制备了GO,并通过乳液共混法制备了GO/天然橡胶（NR）-丁腈橡胶（NBR）复合材料;然后,采用SEM、FTIR、XRD、溶胀测试和力学性能测试表征了GO、NR-NBR硫化胶和GO/NR-NBR复合材料的微观形态、结构和力学性能。结果表明:所得GO含有大量的含氧官能团,氧化效果较好;橡胶基体中GO分散均匀,且GO/NR-NBR复合材料的拉伸断面粗糙程度显著增加;GO的填充可以提高复合材料的表观交联密度;GO/NR-NBR复合材料的力学性能随着GO含量的增加而改善,当GO含量为3.0wt%时,GO/NR-NBR复合材料的拉伸强度、100%定伸应力和邵氏A硬度分别提高了53.3%、67.3%和10.5%,断裂伸长率降低了9.6%。      

Viscoelastic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites using two different curing cycles

Along with carbon nanotubes (CNT) morphology, impurity, and functionalization, polymer curing cycle is another important factor in determining the mechanical properties of the CNT/polymer composite samples. This work investigates the effect of two different curing cycles on mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of the nanotube in the composite in order to optimize the curing condition in term of time and temperature. Nanocomposite samples were prepared by mixing multi-wall carbon nanotubes with epoxy resin using sonication method. The mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the resulting composite samples were evaluated by performing tensile and dynamic mechanical thermal analyses (DMTA) test. The results indicate that the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of pure epoxy and composite samples have been affected by the condition curing process. Concerning viscoelastic modeling, the COLE–COLE diagram has been plotted by the result of DMTA tests. These results show a good agreement between the Perez model and the viscoelastic behavior of the composite.     

改性淀粉/丁苯橡胶复合材料的制备及性能研究

采用固相法制备了玉米淀粉接枝马来酸酐(MAH)和苯乙烯(St)的共聚物Starch-g-MAH-St(SMS)。采用机械共混法制备了接枝改性淀粉/丁苯橡胶(SMS/SBR)复合材料,研究了复合材料的力学性能、热空气老化性能、动态力学性能以及微观形态。结果表明,SMS/SBR复合材料的力学性能优于未改性淀粉/SBR复合材料和纯SBR。当苯乙烯和MAH单体用量都为原淀粉质量的10 %且SMS的用量为20 g/100 g SBR时,SMS/SBR复合材料的力学性能最佳。经100℃ 热空气老化48 h后,复合材料的拉伸强度仍可达10 MPa。与纯 SBR硫化胶相比,SMS/SBR复合材料的玻璃化转变温度(T_g)降低。微观形态分析显示,淀粉经改性后粒子尺寸减小,在SBR 中的分散性得到了改善,与SBR基体的相容性得到了提高。      

Effect of graphene oxide on the physical,mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties of neoprene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene vulcanizates

The present research work demonstrated the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on the physical, mechanical, thermo-mechanical etc., properties of neoprene (CR) and chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) vulcanizates. CR and CSPE based nanocomposites were prepared by both solution intercalation and melt intercalation methods. The changes obtained in the morphology, cure characteristics, mechanical, thermal, thermo-mechanical properties of the rubber nanocomposites have been widely investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis of the samples revealed partial exfoliated structure of GO containing rubber composites. Mechanical, thermal, cure and thermo-mechanical properties of the elastomeric nanocomposites were improved compared to the neat rubbers.     

芳纶纤维对炭黑/丁苯橡胶复合材料疲劳行为的影响

使用短芳纶纤维（AF）增强炭黑/丁苯橡胶（CB/SBR）复合材料,研究AF对复合材料疲劳行为的影响。在应力控制条件下,少量AF的加入使缺口试样的疲劳寿命提高了25.5倍;疲劳使试样的储能模量（G'）降低,AF的加入使疲劳后试样的Payne效应降低,G₀'/G₁₀₀'值降低10.5%;复数模量随疲劳周期增加而降低,但少量纤维能使复合材料的复数模量保持在较高的水平,30 000周疲劳下AF-CB/SBR的复数模量仍为CB/SBR的1.73倍;疲劳后AF-CB/SBR复合材料的100%和300%定伸应力随疲劳变形量的增加而先增大后降低,断裂伸长率有所下降。试样疲劳后相对于拉伸变形量,纤维的增强作用产生滞后效应,相对界面滑脱能随疲劳应变幅度的增加而降低; SEM结果显示,疲劳后橡胶基体出现一定的剥离,纤维与橡胶界面受到损伤。     

Enhancements of the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber with the addition of graphene oxide

Graphene oxide (GO)/carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (xNBR) vulcanizates were prepared in this study by mixing exfoliated GO aqueous dispersion with xNBR latex. The GO monolayers were exfoliated from natural flake graphite by Hummers' method. This study shows that GO could be dispersed homogeneously in xNBR matrix up to 1.2 vol.%. Adding GO nanosheets has a great effect on the mechanical, thermal stability, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity of GO/xNBR vulcanizates. With the incorporation of GO nanosheets, the thermal stability, thermal conductivity, and thermal diffusivity of GO/xNBR vulcanizates increased significantly. The mechanical property of GO/xNBR vulcanizates reached its peak with 1.2 vol.% of GO content. The addition of 1.2 vol.% of GO nanosheets largely enhanced the tensile strength and modulus at 100 % elongation of xNBR by more than 370 and 230 %, respectively. The thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the GO/xNBR vulcanizates with 1.6 vol.% of GO had 1.4- and 1.2-fold improvements, respectively, compared to that of unfilled xNBR vulcanizate.     

受阻酚AO-60/丁腈橡胶复合材料的结构与动态力学性能

在丁腈橡胶(NBR)中添加受阻酚AO-60制备受阻酚/丁腈橡胶复合材料。利用DSC、SEM、动态力学分析仪(DMA)等测试手段对该复合材料的结构进行了表征,并研究了其动态力学性能。结果表明:AO-60在不同的NBR基体中的分散情况不同。在丙烯腈质量分数为35%的NBR基体(N230S)中,AO-60形成了精细的分散结构,且与NBR大分子之间形成了强烈的分子间作用力,两相相容性好。与纯NBR基体相比,AO-60/NBR复合材料的玻璃化转变温度(Tg)随着AO-60含量的增加逐渐升高,损耗因子(tanδ)逐渐增大,阻尼性能提高。同时,AO-60/N230S复合材料表现出更好的阻尼性能。     

Effect of magnetic nanoparticles on the properties of magnetic rubber

A new kind of magnetic rubber was prepared through conventional rubber mixing techniques on a two-roll mill, in which the magnetic filler was Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and was surface modified. The effect of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles’ content on the mechanical and magnetic properties of nature rubber was further investigated. The obtained results of six different compositions for nature rubber with 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 phr of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were compared. It was found that the magnetic rubber has higher magnetic properties and tensile strength, comparing with unfilled nature rubber. The result suggests that when the magnetic filler is nanoparticles and surface modified, the mechanical and magnetic properties of the rubber can be synchronously improved, which is difficult to be observed in previous work.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of chemically treated oil palm fiber filled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites

In this work, chemical surface treated oil palm fibers, including alkali, maleic and silane pre‐treatments are melt blended and hot compression molded with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene into varying compositions of polymer composites. The effectiveness of the chemical pre‐treatment and fiber dispersion are analyzed with the aid of Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscope while the influences on thermal degradation and mechanical properties of the resulting composites are analyzed through thermal gravimetric analysis and tensile test respectively. Differential thermogravimetric analysis result show that alkali, maleic and silane pre‐treatments could lower the onset thermal degradation temperature of oil palm fiber filled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites. The tensile test results show that chemically treated oil palm fiber filled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites attained enhancement in tensile strength as compared to untreated counterpart. Scanning electron microscopy observations on fracture surfaces of oil palm fiber filled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites found that the reinforcing efficiency of chemically treated oil palm fiber could be further increased by improving interfacial bonding between oil palm fiber and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.