Anisotropic thermal transport in a crosslinked polyisoprene rubber subjected to uniaxial elongation

Anisotropic thermal transport in a crosslinked polyisoprene (natural rubber) subjected to uniaxial elongation is investigated experimentally. Using a novel optical technique based on forced Rayleigh scattering, two components of the thermal diffusivity tensor are measured as a function of stretch ratio. The thermal diffusivity is found to increase in the direction parallel, and decrease in the direction perpendicular, to the stretch direction. The level of anisotropy for the natural rubber is substantially lower than that reported by Tautz 50 years ago but comparable to that found in our previous studies on molten polymers, quenched thermoplastics, and other crosslinked elastomers. Thermal diffusivity data along with measurements of the tensile stress were used to evaluate the stress‐thermal rule, which was found to be valid over the entire range of stretch ratios. In contrast, failure of the stress‐optic rule was observed at stretch ratios well below the largest value at which the stress‐thermal rule was valid. This suggests that the degree of anisotropy in thermal conductivity depends on both orientation and stretch of polymer chain segments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Study of phase transition and volume thermal expansion in a rare-earth (RE) oxyfluoride system by high-temperature XRD (RE=La, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd)

Volume thermal expansion behaviour of a number of rare-earth oxyfluorides (REOF) have been studied using high-temperature X-Ray diffractometry (HT-XRD) in the 298–1075 K range in air. The studies revealed an anomalous expansion for each compound associated with phase transition. The phase transition temperature and the coefficient of volume thermal expansion of five compounds in REOF series determined by this method are reported and compared with our earlier results obtained by dilatometry.     

A SAXS and swelling study of cured natural rubber/styrene–butadiene rubber blends

A small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and swelling study of natural rubber and styrene–butadiene rubber blends (NR/SBR) is presented. To this aim, specimens of NR and SBR and blends with 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75 NR/SBR ratios (in phr) were prepared at a cure temperature of 433 K and the optimum cure time (t₁₀₀). This time was obtained from rheometer torque curves. The system of cure used in the samples was sulfur/n‐t‐butyl‐2‐benzothiazole sulfenamide. From swelling tests of the cured samples, information about the molecular weight of the network chain between chemical crosslinks was obtained. For all cured compounds, in the Lorentz plots built from SAXS scattering curves, a maximum of the scattering vector q around 0.14 Å^?1 was observed. However, the q position shows a linear‐like shift toward lower values when the SBR content in the SBR/NR blend increases. In pure NR or SBR the q values show a different tendency. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the existence of different levels of vulcanization for each single phase forming the blend and the existence of a third level of vulcanization located in the interfacial NR/SBR layer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2320–2327, 2009     

Galena/(NR+SBR) rubber composites as gamma radiation shields

Different concentrations of the lead ore mineral (Galena) were incorporated into composites of natural rubber (NR) and styrene — butadiene rubber (SBR-1502). By using ¹³⁷Cs as a gamma radiation source, the composites were investigated to determine to what extent these materials could be used as a gamma radiation shield. It was found that the linear attenuation coefficient μ (m⁻¹) increases markedly with the increase of galena content up to a value of about 29 m⁻¹ for 500 phr of Galena in the rubber matrix. The thermal properties (thermal diffusivity a, specific heat Cp, and thermal conductivity λ) were also measured for these composites.     

Thermal properties of EPDM/NR blends

The thermal behaviour of EPDM/NR blends was studied by differential scanning calorimetry over the temperature range 335–435 K. O'Neill's method (O'Neill MG. Anal Chem 1964;36:1238) was used for calculating the specific heat capacity with aluminia as standard. The presence of natural rubber induces a marked thermal instability because of the high content of double bonds. The contribution of each component to the C_p of the tested polymer systems is discussed. The law of reciprocal affinity, the linear contribution of components to the specific heat capacity is followed by EPDM/NR blends. The influence of natural rubber on the thermal behaviour of tested mixtures was assessed by oxygen uptake method and the first derivative procedure reveals the sequence in thermal stability of ethylene-propylene-diene/natural rubber compounds.     

Thermal stability of CR/CSM rubber blends filled with nano- and micro-silica particles

The properties of filled polymers depend on the properties of the matrix and the filler, the concentration of the components and their interactions. In this research we investigated the rheological and mechanical properties and thermal stability of polychloroprene/chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CR/CSM) rubber blends filled with nano- and micro-silica particles. The density of the nano-silica filled CR/CSM rubber blends was lower than that of the micro-silica filled samples but the tensile strength and elongation at break were much higher. The nano-silica filled CR/CSM rubber blend has higher V _r0/V _rf values than micro-silica composites and show better polymer–filler interaction according to Kraus equation. The nano-silica filled CR/CSM rubber blends were transparent at all filler concentration, and have higher glass transition values than micro-silica filled compounds. The higher values of the glass transition temperatures for the nano- than the micro-filled cross-linked systems are indicated by DMA analysis. The nano-filled cross-linked systems have a larger number of SiO–C links than micro-filled cross-linked systems and hence increased stability.     

Thermal properties of compatibilized and filled natural rubber/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber blends

The thermal behaviour of natural rubber/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NR/NBR) was studied using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in terms of blend ratio, crosslinking systems, fillers and compatibilizer (neoprene) were analyzed. The presence of NBR markedly increases the thermal stability of their blends and it lies in between NR and NBR. DSC studies revealed the thermodynamic immiscibility of the NR/NBR blends by the presence of two distinct glass transition temperatures and the immiscibility was prominent even in the presence of a compatibilizer.     

Study of the NaBr–DyBr3 phase diagram by differential thermal analysis

The phase diagram of the quasi binary NaBr–DyBr₃ system was determined by differential thermal analysis (DTA) applied to 27 samples covering the complete composition range of the system. The 3NaBr*DyBr₃(s) compound is present in the solid-phase in addition to the pure component halides NaBr(s) and DyBr₃(s). The DyBr₃(s) and 3NaBr*DyBr₃(s) phases showed a polymorphic transition at 1112 and at 733 K, respectively. The {DyBr₃(s) + 3NaBr*DyBr₃(s)} eutectic mixture melts at 709 K giving a liquid of the molar composition x(NaBr) = 0.62. The 3NaBr*DyBr₃(s) phase melts peritectically at 765 K. The phase diagram obtained in the present study virtually agrees with the calculated one available in literature.     

Conductivity, calorimetry and phase diagram of the NaHSO4–KHSO4 system

Physico-chemical properties of the binary system NaHSO₄–KHSO₄ were studied by calorimetry and conductivity. The enthalpy of mixing has been measured at 505 K in the full composition range and the phase diagram calculated. The phase diagram has also been constructed from phase transition temperatures obtained by conductivity for 10 different compositions and by differential thermal analysis. The phase diagram is of the simple eutectic type, where the eutectic is found to have the composition X(KHSO₄) = 0.44 (melting point ≈ 406 K). The conductivities in the liquid region have been fitted to polynomials of the form κ(X) = A(X) + B(X)(T − T_m) + C(X)(T − T_m)², where T_m is the intermediate temperature of the measured temperature range and X, the mole fraction of KHSO₄. The possible role of this binary system as a catalyst solvent is also discussed.     

Dilatometric and high temperature X-ray diffractometric studies of La1−xMxCrO3 (M=Sr, Nd, x=0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25) compounds

The phase transition, bulk and lattice thermal expansion behaviour of the strontium and neodymium substituted lanthanum chromites have been studied by dilatometry and high temperature X-ray powder diffractometry from room temperature to 1123 and 1073 K, respectively, in static air. The studies revealed that the temperature of the orthorhombic to rhombohedral phase transition, which occurred at 550 K in undoped LaCrO₃, decreased on substitution of Sr²⁺ ions and increased on substitution of Nd³⁺ ions, systematically. However, the coefficients of average linear and volume thermal expansion (_l and _v) of LaCrO₃ showed a marginal increase on Sr²⁺ substitution to different extent, whereas a reverse trend was observed with Nd³⁺ substitution. The phase transition temperatures and _l and _v of the compounds as determined by dilatometric and high temperature X-ray diffractometric methods are reported.     

Oxidation profiles of thermally aged nitrile rubber

The thermal degradation of a commercial, stabilized, unfilled nitrile (Buna-N) rubber material was investigated at temperatures in the range 85–140 °C. The resulting heterogeneous oxidation, due to diffusion limitations in oxygen availability, was studied using infrared microscopy and modulus profiling. Degradation-related spectral changes were observed primarily in the hydroxyl, carbonyl and ester regions; quantitative analysis revealed identical oxidation profiles for these chromophores. These chemical oxidation profiles (carbonyl formation) were correlated with mechanical modulus (hardness) profiles. Degradation of the sample proceeds via a linear increase in the carbonyl concentration, but an exponential increase in the modulus with time. It is concluded that the profile development and aging behavior can be described by a diffusion-limited autoxidation mechanism which can be modeled computationally. The results are compared to those of a previously studied carbon-black-filled material.     

Natural rubber/styrene-butadiene rubber blends prepared by solution mixing: Influence of vulcanization temperature using a Semi-EV sulfur curing system on the microstructural properties

Blends of natural rubber (NR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) were prepared by solution mixing and vulcanized with sulfur and accelerator in a Semi-EV system at 433 K and 443 K in order to study the vulcanization kinetic and the influence of vulcanization temperature on final structure of the blends. The vulcanization kinetic studied through the variation in rheometer curves was analyzed using the Ding and Leonov model, which takes into account the reversion effect during the cure process. The average free nanohole volume and the fractional free volume of samples with different NR/SBR ratio were estimated using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Also, the crosslink density was determined by means of swelling tests in a solvent. For all the compounds, a correlation between the free nanohole volume and the delta torque obtained from the respective rheometer curves was established.     

Thermal decomposition of polymeric aminoborane (H2BNH2)x under hydrogen release

Polymeric aminoborane (H₂BNH₂)_x has been isolated during the thermal decomposition of solid borazane H₃BNH₃ at temperatures below 370 K. Polymeric aminoborane is a white noncrystalline solid, stable at room temperature and up to 380 K. In the temperature range of 380–500 K polymeric aminoborane undergoes a thermal decomposition, which was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), by thermogravimetry (TG) and by volumetric measurements. The solid residue was characterized by IR spectroscopy, by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and by solid state ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy.

The thermal decomposition of polymeric aminoborane (H₂BNH₂)_x is an exothermic process accompanied by evolution of nearly 1 mol hydrogen per mole H₂BNH₂ unit corresponding to the volumetric measurements. The detected mass loss of the solid phase indicates the formation of further gaseous products beside hydrogen. The final mass loss increases with rising heating rate, in contrast to the final amount of evolved hydrogen, which still remains constant.     

Accelerated aging and stabilization of radiation-vulcanized EPDM rubber

The effect of different antioxidants and their mixtures on the thermal aging and accelerated weathering of γ-radiation vulcanized EPDM rubber in presence of crosslinking coagent, was investigated. The compounds used were either a synergistic blend of phenolic and phosphite antioxidants, i.e. 1:4 Irganox 1076: Irgafos 168 or a blend of arylamine and quinoline type antioxidants, i.e. 1:1 IPPD:TMQ, at fixed concentration. Tinuvin 622 LD hindered amine light stabilized (HALS) was also used. The response was evaluated by the tensile strength and elongation at break for irradiated samples after thermal aging at 100°C for 28 days and accelerated weathering (Xenon test) up to 200 h.     

Solid-state NMR on thermal and fire residues of bisphenol A polycarbonate/silicone acrylate rubber/bisphenol A Bis(diphenyl-phosphate) (PC/SiR/BDP) and PC/SiR/BDP/zinc borate (PC/SiR/BDP/ZnB) — Part II: The influence of SiR

Solid residues of bisphenol A polycarbonate (containing 0.45 wt% poly(tetrafluoroethylene))/silicone acrylate rubber/bisphenol A bis(diphenyl-phosphate) (PC/SiR/BDP) and PC/SiR/BDP/zinc borate (PC/SiR/BDP/ZnB) after thermal treatment were investigated by solid-state and liquid-state NMR, focusing on the role and interaction of SiR with the other components of the polymer blend.In PC/SiR/BDP, part of the SiR reacts to an amorphous silicate network rather than being completely released in the gas phase. The silicate network consists of Q₄ and Q₃ groups formed via intermediate D and T groups. The D groups are formed by a reaction of SiR with bisphenol-A units as well as phenyl groups of PC and BDP. In addition a small amount of silicon diphosphate was observed after thermal treatment at temperatures higher than 810 K. The same decomposition products (without SiP₂O₇) occur in the solid residues of PC/SiR/BDP/ZnB samples. The formation of intermediate D and T groups occurs earlier, at slightly lower temperatures. Any formation of a borosilicate network was excluded.The results also apply for the fire residues of PC/SiR/BDP and PC/SiR/BDP/ZnB and are thus valuable for understanding the impact of SiR on pyrolysis and flame retardancy mechanisms in the condensed phase during the burning of PC/SiR/BDP blends. SiR was found to influence the pyrolysis and the char formed. Beyond the replacement of highly combustible mechanical modifiers, SiR harbours the potential to enhance flame retardancy.     

Degradation behavior of maleated polyethylene/ground tire rubber thermoplastic elastomers with and without stabilizers

This work investigates the effects of different degradation processes (weathering, thermal ageing and re-extrusion) on maleated polyethylene (MAPE), as well as MAPE/ground tire rubber (GTR) thermoplastic elastomers with and without stabilizers (thermal stabilizer, UVA and HALS). Mechanical characterizations revealed that GTR addition reduced compounds stability against thermal ageing at both 80 and 90 °C. But addition of stabilizers increased thermal stability of the MAPE phase. However, the results suggest that the stabilizers had no effect on the GTR phase. Mechanical characterizations also showed that weathering caused degradation in MAPE, while presence of stabilizers decreased the effects of degradation. Addition of GTR also increased significantly the stability of MAPE against weathering (due to presence of carbon black in GTR). Re-extrusion resulted in lower MAPE modulus (due to decreased molecular weight), while the modulus of GTR filled compounds increased. Re-extrusion also led to decreased GTR average particle size, especially at higher GTR contents. Morphological analyses showed that thermal ageing and re-extrusion did not change significantly blend morphology, but weathering, on the other hand, led to severe degradation of both MAPE and GTR filled compounds surface. Compression set of MAPE/GTR compounds was found to decrease with increasing degradation level (due to crosslinking). Finally, sample density slightly increased with degradation level (also due to crosslinking).     

Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity Anisotropy in a Liquid Crystal

Thermal conductivity (k) and thermal diffusivity (D) of the 9CB liquid crystal have been simultaneously determined by a photopyroelectric (PPE) technique in the temperature range from 308 K to 332 K where two different phase transitions occur. The measurements have been performed on oriented samples and the k and D anisotropy has been studied. The behaviour of the macroscopic order parameter vs. temperature has been determined and the order of the phase transitions checked. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Separation of organic mixtures by pervaporation using crosslinked rubber membranes

Natural rubber (NR) and poly(styrene-co-butadiene) rubber (SBR) has been crosslinked with sulfur and accelerator with three different doses of varied accelerator to sulfur ratios to obtain three crosslinked membranes from each of these two rubbers (NR-1, NR-2 and NR-3 and SBR-1, SBR-2 and SBR-3). These six rubber membranes were used for pervaporative separation of toluene–methanol mixture up to 10 wt% of toluene in feed. It has been found that with increase in accelerator to sulfur ratio from membrane-3 to membrane-1, the vulcanization system shifts from conventional to efficient system resulting in higher degree of crosslink density and permeation selectivity. All of these membranes showed reasonably good range of flux (45.26 gm/m² h for NR-3 to 12.0 gm/m² h for SBR-1) and separation factor (162 for SBR-1 to 35.12 for NR-3) for 0.55 wt% of toluene in feed. Among these membranes NR-1 and SBR-1 with highest crosslink density showed maximum separation factor for toluene along with good flux. It has also been found that for comparable crosslink density SBR membranes showed better separation factor than NR membranes.     

Influence of fluorine-containing lubricant on properties of NR/BR rubber

K95 experimental lubricant being a product of fluorine reaction with a blend of mutually soluble poly(fluorine alcohols) and poly(fluorine esters) with molecular weight 240-900 g/mol was studied as an additive for rubber compounds based on blend of NR and BR. It was thermally stable till 270-300 °C. For comparison, it was tested simultaneously with homogenizing agent, Struktol MS40. Lubricant K95 added in a quantity of 0.5 wt% reduced the viscosity of rubber compound; it also improved compound flow in the mold. Mechanical properties of cured rubber not decrease while resistance to abrasion and fatigue increased. K95 participated in forming strong physical junctions (lower molecular weight between junctions of thermally stable network) while Struktol MS40 reduced the networking degree of rubber. As a result, it acts a multifunctional additive for NR/BR rubber.