Viscoelastic and thermal properties of natural rubber low-density polyethylene composites with boric acid and borax

The influence of boric acid (BA) and borax (BO) neutron-absorbing fillers on thermal stability and viscoelastic behavior of natural rubber (NR) low-density polyethylene composites has been studied. The thermal degradation and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites have been analyzed as a function of temperature. The results revealed the enhancement of thermal stability of the composites by the addition of BA and BO fillers. The flame resistance of the material was improved by the addition of both the fillers. The storage modulus was found to be dependent upon the temperature and nature of the filler. The amount of NR chains immobilized by filler particles has been quantified from dynamic mechanical analysis and secondary filler/filler interactions have been verified by the Payne effect analysis. Finally, the experimental results have been compared with theoretical predictions.     

The role of adhesion in the mechanical properties of filled polymer composites

Filled polymer composites have been prepared in which the energetics of the filler surfaces was systematically varied in order to investigate the dependence of the mechanical properties of the composite on the interfacial strength as predicted by the thermodynamic work of adhesion at the filler-matrix interface. A high-purity silica filler was used, treated with three different organofunctional silane coupling agents (two alkylsilanes and an aminosilane) to varying degrees from zero to complete coverage. The surface energetics of the modified fillers was characterized using both inverse gas chromatography (IGC) and dynamic contact angle analysis (DCA). While the surface energy assessments from IGC were higher than those obtained with wetting measurements, as expected, the trends with fractional coverage of silane were the same for each method, and were used to evaluate the thermodynamic work of adhesion. Highly filled polymer composites were prepared by dispersing the variously treated silica fillers into the amorphous thermoplastic matrix polymers: poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl butyral). Specimens of the composites were tested mechanically to give the yield stress. The poly(methyl methacrylate) composites all failed cohesively in the matrix, unaffected by any of the filler surface treatments. The poly(vinyl butyral) composites, however, all displayed purely interfacial failure, with the yield stress strongly dependent on the type and extent of the filler surface treatment. While all three silanes were found to decrease the filler surface energy, and consequently the thermodynamic work of adhesion, with higher surface coverage, corresponding decreases in the yield stress were found only for the alkylsilanes. For the aminosilane, the measured yield stress was found to increase with surface coverage and therefore to decrease with the work of adhesion. The difference in behavior between the two types of coupling agent is explained in terms of acid-base effects.     

Fiber orientation and mechanical properties of short-fiber-reinforced injection-molded composites: Simulated and experimental results

A numerical simulation is presented that combines the flow simulation during injection molding with an efficient algorithm for predicting the orientation of short fibers in thin composite parts. Fiber-orientation state is represented in terms of a second-order orientation tensor. Fiber-fiber interactions are modeled by means of an isotropic rotary diffusion. The simulation predicts flow-aligned fiber orientation (shell region)near the surface with transversely aligned (core region) fibers in the vicinity of the mid-plane. The effects of part thickness and injection speed on fiber orientation are analyzed. Experimental measurements of fiber orientation in plaque-shaped parts for three different combinations of cavity thickness and injection speed are reported. It is found that gapwise-converging flow due to the growing layer of solidified polymer near the walls tends to flow-align the fibers near the entrance, whereas near the melt front, gapwise-diverging flow due to the diminishing solid layer tends to lign the fibers transverse to the flow. The effect of this gapwise-converging-diverging flow is found to be especially significant for thin parts molded at slower injection speeds, which have a proportionately thicker layer of solidified polymer during the filling process. If the fiber orientation is known, predictions of the anisotropic tensile moduli and thermal-expansion coefficients of the composite are obtained by using the equations for unidirectional composites and taking an orientation average. These predictions are found to agree reasonably well with corresponding experimental measurements.     

Viscoelastic properties of natural rubber composites reinforced by defatted soy flour and carbon black co‐filler

Filler mixtures of defatted soy flour (DSF) and carbon black (CB) were used to reinforce natural rubber (NR) composites and their viscoelastic properties were investigated. DSF is an abundant and renewable commodity and has a lower material cost than CB. Aqueous dispersions of DSF and CB were first mixed and then blended with NR latex to form rubber composites using freeze‐drying and compression molding methods. A 40% co‐filler reinforced composite with a 1 : 1 DSF : CB ratio exhibited a 90‐fold increase in the rubber plateau modulus compared with unfilled NR, showing a significant reinforcement effect by the co‐filler. The effect, however, is lower than that observed in the carboxylated styrene–butadiene rubber composites reported earlier, indicating a significant effect from the rubber matrix. The co‐filler composites have elastic moduli between those of DSF and CB reinforced composites. Stress softening and recovery experiments indicated that the co‐filler composites with a higher CB content tend to have a better recovery behavior; however, this can not be simply explained from the recovery behaviors of the single filler (DFS and CB) composites. CB composites prepared by freeze‐drying show a strain‐induced reorganization of fillers. Strain sweep experiment data fit with the Kraus model indicates the co‐filler composites with a higher CB content are more elastic, which is consistent with the recovery experiments. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Viscoelastic and thermoelastic properties of general purpose commercial vulcanized natural rubber

Viscoelastic and thermoelastic properties of general purpose vulcanized natural rubber were investigated focusing attention on its nonideal or irreversible natures. The master curve is not composed by simple horizontal shift of stress–relaxation curves at various temperatures by the time–temperature superposition principle. In order to compose a smooth master curve, both horizontal and vertical shifts are necessary. The relative stress–time relation elucidates the fact that the stress–relaxation mechanism is caused by the chemical scission by oxidation occurring in the network system. The value of vertical shift increases with increasing temperature or strain. This phenomenon has the same meaning as the one derived from the relative stress–time relation. The activation energies are calculated using the horizontal shift factors determined empirically. The result suggests the existence of two concurrent relaxation mechanisms with different activation energies. From the stress–temperature relation at any given strain, energetic and entropic components of the stress–strain curve are obtained. The energetic component is very significant as compared with the case of ideal crosslinked natural rubber. This phenomenon is considered to be caused by the internal friction and/or chemical scission of bonds in the system associated with the deformation process of sample.     

石墨烯基橡胶复合材料的制备与性能

综述了近年国内外石墨烯基橡胶复合材料的研究进展,主要包括石墨烯/天然橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/丁腈橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/丁苯橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/硅橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/丁基橡胶复合材料和石墨烯/异戊橡胶复合材料。同时对石墨烯基橡胶复合材料在制备和应用过程中遇到的难题进行了分析和总结。开发高质量石墨烯的绿色环保低成本制备和提纯技术以及提高石墨烯在橡胶中的有效分散效果将是今后该领域亟待解决的关键技术问题。     

硅橡胶复合材料的制备及摩擦性能

考察了白炭黑、羟基硅油对硅橡胶复合材料摩擦性能的影响,研究了硅橡胶复合材料在干、湿光滑玻璃表面摩擦系数的影响因素及摩擦机理.结果表明,硅橡胶复合材料在光滑玻璃表面的干摩擦系数(fD)与损耗因子(tanδ)/邵尔A硬度(H)、tanδ/剪切储能模量(G')均呈线性正相关,随白炭黑用量的增加,fD降低.当增塑剂用量小于7....     

Dielectric and mechanical properties of rubber ferrite composites

Abstract

Rubber ferrite composites (RFCs) containing powdered nickel zinc ferrite (Ni_{1 - x}Zn_xFe₂O₄ ) in a natural rubber matrix have been prepared and their mechanical and dielectric properties have been evaluated. Variations in the relative permittivity of both the ferrite ceramics and RFCs have been studied over a range of frequencies, ceramic compositions, ceramic filler loadings, and temperatures, and the results have been correlated. Appropriate mixture equations have been formulated to calculate the dielectric permittivity of the composite from the dielectric permittivity of its constituents. Values calculated using these equations have been compared with experimental data on relative permittivity, and the two have been found to be in good agreement. In the present investigation it was also observed that for x = 0 4 and for the maximum ferrite loading, the composite sample exhibits maximum magnetisation and optimum flexibility.     

石墨烯基橡胶复合材料的制备与性能

综述了近年国内外石墨烯基橡胶复合材料的研究进展,主要包括石墨烯/天然橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/丁腈橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/丁苯橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/硅橡胶复合材料、石墨烯/丁基橡胶复合材料和石墨烯/异戊橡胶复合材料。同时对石墨烯基橡胶复合材料在制备和应用过程中遇到的难题进行了分析和总结。开发高质量石墨烯的绿色环保低成本制备和提纯技术以及提高石墨烯在橡胶中的有效分散效果将是今后该领域亟待解决的关键技术问题。     

Viscoelastic properties of nitrile rubber filled with lignite fly ash

Nitrile rubber (NBR) compounds containing various loadings of fly ash (FA) were prepared, and their viscoelastic properties and reinforcement mechanism were investigated and compared with those of natural rubber (NR) compounds reported previously. The results obtained exhibit an increase in storage modulus (G′) with increasing FA particularly at high FA loading. By contrast, the broadness of linear viscoelastic (LVE) region is found to decrease. With the use of Guth‐Gold equation, the positive deviation of experimental values of relative modulus outward the theoretical values is observed at low strain of deformation. However, at high deformation strain, the negative deviation is found. The results imply that the presence of pseudo‐network (as formed via FA–FA and FA–NBR interactions) and the ball bearing effect provided by FA having spherical shape are responsible for the reinforcement in FA filled NBR compounds. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

单向短纤维增强复合材料纵向弹性模量预测

建立含单纤维和基体的双圆柱复合材料细观力学模型,采用基体剪应力的Lame形式推导得到纤维轴向应力计算方程和纤维长度影响因子λ的表达式。依据纤维长度影响因子和混合定律得到了单向短纤维增强复合材料纵向弹性模量的计算公式,探讨纤维长径比和体积分数等细观结构参数对材料纵向弹性模量的影响。将计算公式得到的材料纵向弹性模量与Halpin-Tsai和Darlnigton方程得到的结果与实验值进行了对比。结果表明,计算公式预测值更接近于实验值。     

Evaluation of the role of devulcanized rubber on the thermomechanical properties of expanded ethylene-propylene diene monomers composites

Various amounts of both devulcanized (DR) and non-devulcanized (NDR) recycled rubber were melt compounded with a virgin ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. The resulting compounds were then expanded by using azodicarbonamide. The role played by the presence of DR or NDR on the thermomechanical properties of the obtained materials was evaluated. Electron scanning microscope micrographs highlighted that DR particles were better encapsulated within the EPDM matrix with respect to the corresponding NDR ones. Moreover, a better interfacial adhesion was observed with DR, probably due the re-vulcanization process in which the free crosslinking sites that typically characterize DR could form linkages with the EPDM matrix. Tensile impact behavior of expanded EPDM/recycled rubber blends highlighted a strong improvement of the normalized total absorbed energy, of the normalized impact strength and of the elongation at break with respect to the neat expanded EPDM for all the investigated compositions, and especially with a DR content of 20 wt%. The preparation of expanded EPDM containing considerable amounts of devulcanized rubber was, therefore, demonstrated to be a practical route to reduce the costs and improve the properties and the environmental sustainability of rubber products.     

Modification of rubber powder with peroxide and properties of polypropylene/rubber composites

Waste tire powder was functionalized in the presence of various concentrations of allylamine and benzoyl peroxide. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed the presence of allylamine on the surface of the rubber powder. The surface energy of the functionalized rubber powder revealed that the introduction of allylamine onto the rubber powder surface increased the surface activity. Improvements in the tensile strength, elongation at break, and storage modulus were observed for polypropylene/modified rubber powder/maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene, and this was attributed to an improvement in the compatibility due to the chemical interaction between the rubber powder and compatibilizer. Evidence for the reaction between the rubber surface and compatibilizer was observed in Fourier transform infrared studies. This peroxide‐initiated monomer‐grafting technique is feasible for large‐scale processes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2237–2243, 2007     

石墨烯改性橡胶复合材料的结构组成及性能

综述了近年国内外石墨烯改性橡胶复合材料的结构组成及性能的研究进展,主要包括机械性能、导电性能和导热性能。同时对该类复合材料的应用和发展趋势进行了阐述和总结。开发绿色环保型功能化石墨烯合成和提纯新工艺以及提高橡胶中功能化石墨烯的分散均匀性将是该领域今后奋斗的主要目标。     

硅橡胶隔热复合材料的制备及性能

采用空心玻璃微珠（HGB）和膨胀蛭石（EVMT）作为隔热填料,分别与高温硫化硅橡胶（HTV）共混制备HGB/HTV和EVMT/HTV隔热复合材料,并考察了隔热填料的种类和用量对隔热复合材料的隔热性能和力学性能的影响。结果表明,随着HGB和EVMT用量的增加,隔热复合材料的导热性能明显下降。相比于HTV试样,当HGB与HTV的质量比为20/100,EVMT与HTV的质量比为10/100时,隔热复合材料的导热系数分别下降了20.44%和12.34%。HGB和EVMT均能提高HTV隔热复合材料的100%定伸应力和邵尔A硬度,降低其拉伸强度与扯断伸长率。当HGB与HTV的质量比为20/100,EVMT与HTV的质量比为10/100时,隔热复合材料的拉伸强度分别为10.51 MPa和11.59 MPa,邵尔A硬度分别为71.6和59.1。     

Thermal stability and ablation properties of silicone rubber composites

Effects of incorporation of clay and carbon fiber (CF) into a high temperature vulcanized (HTV) silicone rubber, i.e., poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) containing vinyl groups, on its thermal stability and ablation properties were explored through thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and oxy‐acetylene torch tests. Natural clay, sodium montmorillonite (MMT), was modified with a silane compound bearing tetra sulfide (TS) groups to prepare MMTS₄: the TS groups may react with the vinyl groups of HTV and enhance the interfacial interaction between the clay and HTV. MMTS₄ layers were better dispersed than MMT layers in the respective composites with exfoliated/intercalated coexisting morphology. According to TGA results and to the insulation index, the HTV/MMTS₄ composite was more thermally stable than HTV/MMT. However, addition of CF to the composites lowered their thermal stability, because of the high thermal conductivity of CF. The time elapsed for the composite specimen, loaded with a constant weight, to break off after the oxy‐acetylene flame bursts onto the surface of the specimen was employed as an index for an integrated assessment of the ablation properties, simultaneously taking into consideration the mechanical strength of the char and the rate of decomposition. The elapsed time increased in the order of: HTV < HTV/CF ≈ HTV/MMTS₄ < HTV/CF/MMTS₄ ≈ HTV/MMT < HTV/CF/MMT. This order was different from the increasing order of the thermal stability determined by TGA results and the insulation index. The decreased degree of crosslinking of the composites with MMTS₄ compared with that of the composite with MMT may be unfavorable for the formation of a mechanically strong char and could lead to early rupture of the HTV/MMTS₄ specimen. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Viscoelastic characterization of rubber compounds

The viscoelastic properties of gum rubbers and the properties of corresponding compounds are discussed. Representative examples are given to illustrate the important influence of gum rubber on the compound properties. A method for evaluating strain amplification and strain-rate amplification is proposed. Examples are given to show the characterization of compounds with respect to the variation in gum rubbers and carbon black grades. The unique characteristics of compounds which are not observed in gum rubbers are also discussed.     

纳米高岭土/橡胶复合材料的性能研究

研究纳米高岭土／橡胶（SBR，NR，BR和EPDM）复合材料的物理性能和热稳定性能，并用透射电子显微镜、X射线衍射、红外光谱和热重分析法对高岭土／橡胶复合材料进行分析。结果表明，与白炭黑／橡胶复合材料相比，纳米高岭土／橡胶复合材料回弹性、拉伸性能和热稳定性较好，撕裂强度和定伸应力稍差；高岭土片层厚度为纳米级、分散性良好、片状粒子与橡胶大分子在纳米尺度紧密结合以及纳米高岭土片层在橡胶基体中分离且定向平行排列，是复合材料具有优良物理性能和热稳定性的重要原因。     

淀粉/天然橡胶复合材料的力学性能研究

采用不同偶联剂对淀粉活化改性,通过直接共混法制备淀粉/天然橡胶复合材料。研究了淀粉种类、添加量及偶联剂对复合材料的拉伸性能、硬度、耐磨性的变化规律。结果表明:改性后淀粉/天然橡胶复合材料的拉伸性能、硬度、耐磨性明显增加,而改性后木薯淀粉/天然橡胶复合材料的力学性能最佳;采用质量分数为3%的有机硼偶联剂对橡胶材料的改性效果最好。     

短纤维取向对其橡胶复合材料性能的影响

通过对比性实验,研究了短纤维取向对其橡胶复合材料综合物理机械性能的影响。结果表明,在短纤维取向方向上,复合材料综合物理机械性能较好,并且表现出了各向异性的特性。