Influence of Carbon Black and Silica Filler on the Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Compound

Rubber compounds are reinforced with fillers such as carbon black and silica. In general, filled rubber compounds shows smooth rheological behavior and mechanical properties. Variation in rheological behavior and mechanical properties was studied in terms of the filler composition using natural rubber compounds filled with both carbon black and silica CB/Si = 0/60, 20/40, 30/30, 40/20 and 60/0 phr (parts per hundred rubber is parts of any non-rubbery material per hundred parts of raw gum elastomer (rubbery material)). The rheological behaviour can be showed in measurement of Mooney viscosity and cure time. The Mooney viscosity of rubber compounds increase with the increasing the carbon black in the compounds. The compound filled with CB/Si of 30/30 and 60/0 showed abnormal rheological behaviour in which the cure time decreased suddenly and the increased at certain ratio during the measurement. The mechanical properties such as hardness, abrasion resistance and tensile stress at 300% elongation were studied. In the hardness and abrasion resistance measurement, the higher ratio CB/Si decrease contribution of silica, which resulting smaller of hardness value. Ratio CB/Si 40/20 gives an optimum filler blended. It is also clearly understood that higher abrasion resistance mainly due to the lower hardness value under the same condition. The tensile stress at 300% elongation of rubber compound increased with the increasing carbon black filler.     

利用高压水射流技术制备天然橡胶复合材料

首先利用超声空化作用将炭黑团聚体破碎、切割、分散在水中制得炭黑悬浮液,然后在高速射流场中,炭黑悬浮液被高速射流卷吸到天然胶乳中,在射流边界,由于二者存在极大的速度差,而形成一个湍流混合层,炭黑在湍流拉伸、剪切作用下微观分散到天然胶乳中.结果表明,与传统干法工艺相比,射流工艺可以使炭黑更均匀的分散到天然橡胶基体中.Payne效应结果表明射流工艺减弱了炭黑与炭黑之间的相互作用,增强了炭黑与橡胶之间的相互作用.同时射流工艺制备的复合材料硫化时间变短,硫化程度增加,硫化胶的撕裂强度提高了78%,回弹性提高了20%,DIN磨耗减小了33%.动态力学性能结果表明,射流工艺制备的复合材料在60℃左右具有更低的损耗因子.     

Influence of filler type and content on properties of styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) compound reinforced with carbon black or silica

Rubber compounds are filled with reinforcing fillers to improve their physical properties. Carbon black and silica have different surface chemistries to each other. Differences in properties of carbon black‐ and silica‐reinforced styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds were studied. Variation of properties of carbon black‐ or silica‐filled compounds with the filler content was also investigated. The silica‐filled compounds without any coupling agent and dispering agent were prepared to investigate the influence of polar materials‐adsorption on the silica surface. Viscosity and crosslink density increased with increase of the filler content. Hardness, modulus, tensile strength, and wear property were improved more and more by increasing the filler content. Viscosity of the silica‐filled compound was higher than that of the carbon black‐filled one. Cure rate of the silica‐filled compound became slower as the filler content increased, while that of the carbon black‐filled one became faster. Difference in properties between the carbon black‐ and silica‐filled compounds were explained by the poor silica dispersion and the adsorption of cure accelerator on the silica surface. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of fly ash silica and precipitated silica fillers on the viscosity,cure, and viscoelastic properties of natural rubber

The viscosity, cure properties, storage, and loss moduli and tan δ of natural rubber (NR) filled with the same amounts of precipitated silica (PSi) and fly ash silica (FASi) fillers were measured. The fillers were treated with bis[3‐triethoxysilylpropyl‐]tetrasulfide (TESPT), or, used in the rubber untreated. TESPT is a sulfur‐containing bi‐functional organosilane that chemically adheres silica to rubber and also prevents silica from interfering with the reaction mechanism of sulfur cure. The dispersion of PSi and FASi in the rubber was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of silica type and loading and surface treatment on the aforementioned properties were of interest. The SEM results showed that the FASi particles were larger in size and had a wider particle size distribution when compared with the PSi particles. The viscosity of the compounds decreased progressively with mixing time, and the compounds with FASi had a lower viscosity than those filled with PSi. The treatment with Si69 had no beneficial effect on the dispersion of the fillers in the rubber matrix. At low temperatures, the type and loading of the filler had no effect on the storage and loss moduli of the compounds, but the effect was more pronounced at high temperatures. There was also evidence from the tan δ and glass transition temperature (T_g) measurements that some limited interaction between the filler particles and rubber had occurred because of TESPT. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and properties of star‐shaped solution‐polymerized styrene‐butadiene rubber and its co‐coagulated rubber filled with silica/carbon black‐I: morphological structure and mechanical properties

The morphological structure and mechanical properties of the star‐shaped solution‐polymerized styrene‐butadiene rubber (SSBR) and organically modified nanosilica powder/star‐shaped SSBR co‐coagulated rubber (N‐SSBR) both filled with silica/carbon black (CB) were studied. The results showed that, compared with SSBR, silica powder could be mixed into N‐SSBR much more rapidly, and N‐SSBR/SiO₂ nanocomposite had better filler‐dispersion and processability. N‐SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates displayed higher glass‐transition temperature and lower peak value of internal friction loss than SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates. In the N‐SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates, filler was dispersed in nano‐scale resulting in good mechanical properties. Composites filled with silica/CB doped filler exhibited more excellent mechanical properties than those filled with a single filler because of the better filler‐dispersion and stronger interfacial interaction with macromolecular chains. N‐SSBR/SiO₂/CB vulcanizates exhibited preferable performance in abrasion resistance and higher bound rubber content as the blending ratio of silica to CB was 20:30. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

纳米微晶纤维素对炭黑补强天然橡胶力学性能和动态性能的影响

采用酸水解工业微晶纤维素(MCC)制备纳米微晶纤维素(NCC),将其与天然胶乳共凝沉,混炼时加入炭黑(CB),制备了天然橡胶(NR)/NCC/CB复合材料,研究了NR/NCC/CB和NR/NCC/CB/RH(间苯二酚-六亚甲基四胺络合物)复合材料的力学性能和动态性能,并与NR/CB体系的性能进行对比.结果表明NCC可以均匀分散在天然橡胶基体中,且依拉伸方向取向,随着NCC替代炭黑的份数增加,Payne效应减弱,说明NCC本身并不构成强的填料网络,NR/NCC/CB与NR/CB比较,前者整体的网络化程度减弱,体系的损耗因子变化不大,NCC的加入改善了NR/CB的力学性能和抗屈挠龟裂性能,降低压缩疲劳温升和压缩永久形变,当NCC取代5～20 phr CB后,仍然保持高耐磨炭黑补强天然橡胶的耐磨耗性能.动态力学性能显示NR/NCC/CB的玻璃化转变温度较NR/CB变化不大,0℃的tanδ略有下降的同时60℃的tanδ明显降低.NR/NCC/CB/RH体系的Payne效应较NR/NCC/CB明显减弱,力学性能、抗屈挠龟裂性能和耐磨耗性能进一步改善,体系的压缩疲劳温升和压缩永久形变更小.     

In Situ Formation of Particulate Silica in Natural Rubber Matrix by the Sol-Gel Reaction

The sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane was conducted in natural rubber (NR) matrix to obtain NR/in situ silica mixtures. In other words, in situ filling of silica onto NR was conducted. The mixtures were compounded with curing regents, and their viscosities were evaluated. The in situ silica with a coupling agent afforded the lowest viscosity compared not only with a conventional silica (VN-3) but also with a carbon black (HAF). The curing behaviors were most favorable for in situ silica compound. Physical properties of the vulcanizates were also evaluated, and again in situ silica stock gave the best result.     

Difference in bound rubber formation of silica and carbon black with styrene‐butadiene rubber

Formation of bound rubber is affected by the physical structure and surface chemistry of filler and the property of rubber. Variation of the bound rubber formation in styrene‐butadiene rubber compounds filled with silica and/or carbon black was studied. Influence of temperature on extraction of loosely bound rubber was also investigated. For the both silica and carbon black‐filled compounds, the bound rubber content increases with increase in the silica content ratio. The bound rubber content decreases with increasing the extracting temperature. The loosely bound rubber content of the silica‐filled compound is higher than that of the carbon black‐filled one. Activation energy for the extraction of the unbound and loosely bound rubbers becomes higher as the total filler content increases. The activation energy of the silica‐filled compound is higher (almost double the value) than for the carbon black‐filled one. Copyright­© 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of rubber type on the curing and physical properties of silica filled rubber compounds

As environmental regulations are getting stricter, tire industries for automobiles have shown much interest in substituting silica for conventional carbon black partially or entirely. To take full advantage of silica as fillers for rubbers, it is essential to find a reasonable rubber system that shows an excellent performance with silica reinforcement. Therefore, in this study, several different rubber compounds comprising the same amount of silica were prepared with several different rubber systems, respectively. The processability, curing characteristics, and mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the rubber compounds were investigated to analyze the performance of the rubber compounds as tire tread materials. Among the rubber compounds studied, SBR1721 compound comprising natural rubber (NR) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) with high styrene content was considered the most appropriate for application to tire tread materials. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and properties of natural rubber composites reinforced with pretreated carbon nanotubes

In order to achieve dramatic improvements in the performance of rubber materials, the development of carbon nanotube (CNT)‐reinforced rubber composites was attempted. The CNT/natural rubber (NR) nanocomposite was prepared through solvent mixing on the basis of pretreatment of CNTs. Thermal properties, vulcanization characteristics, and physical and mechanical properties of the CNT/NR nanocomposites were characterized in contrast to the carbon black (CB)/NR composite. Through the addition of the CNTs treated using acid bath followed by ball milling with HRH (hydrated silica, resorcinol, and hexamethylene tetramine) bonding systems, the crystallization melting peak in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves of NR weakened and the curing rate of NR slightly decreased. Meanwhile, the over‐curing reversion of CNT/NR nanocomposites was alleviated. The dispersion of the treated CNTs in the rubber matrix and interfacial bonding between them were rather good. The mechanical properties of the CNT‐reinforced NR showed a considerable increase compared to the neat NR and traditional CB/NR composite. At the same time, the CNT/NR nanocomposites exhibited better rebound resilience and dynamic compression properties. The storage modulus of the CNT/NR nanocomposites greatly exceeds that of neat NR and CB/NR composites under all temperature regions. The thermal stability of NR was also obviously improved with the addition of the treated CNTs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The special features of equilibrium adsorption of argon on homogeneous and inhomogeneous surfaces

Comparative patterns of equilibrium adsorption of argon on the surface of graphitized thermal carbon black (GCB) and the inhomogeneous surfaces of nongraphitized carbon black and silica at 77 and 87.3 K were considered. It was shown that argon acquires the properties of a special phase with a layered structure and exhibits two-dimensional phase transitions with the formation of crystal-like layers near the homogeneous surface of GCB even at a temperature exceeding the triple point. However, already at a distance of three-four molecular diameters from the surface, adsorbed argon behaves as a bulk phase in a weak external field. The defect surface of nongraphitized carbon black and the amorphous surface structure of silica destroy the longrange order of adsorbed argon and lower its solidification temperature. Therefore, argon adsorbed at a temperature of 77 K, i.e., below the triple point, exhibits the properties of a supercooled liquid. The applicability of density functional theory to describe argon isotherms and heat of adsorption on inhomogeneous surfaces was demonstrated.     

Evaluation of air permeability characteristics on the hybridization of carbon black with graphene nanoplatelets in bromobutyl rubber/epoxidized natural rubber composites for inner‐liner applications

Nanotechnology has been explored recently as a means of enhancing the properties of conventional elastomers for engineering applications. In the current study, the effect of nanofillers on air impermeability properties of Brominated isobutylene‐isoprene rubber (BIIR)/Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) blend has analyzed for automotive applications. The ENR chosen is ENR 25 and ENR 50 (25 and 50% epoxidation) and prepared the blends in a ratio of 75:25 (BIIR:ENR), and from both blend based composites, a part of carbon black replaced with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). The physical and thermal properties were compared for both binary blend nanocomposites to study the level of exfoliation and reinforcement behavior of GNP. Morphology studies were employed to reveal the level of interaction between GNP and carbon black in both blends. The influence of epoxidation in the formation of nanostructures in both blends have been evaluated, and the effect of nanostructures on air permeability properties was studied. The air impermeability of BIIR‐ENR 50 nanocomposites were improved with increasing platelet concentration, a 30% improvement in air permeability is obtained for BIIR‐ENR 50 composites over BIIR ‐ENR 25.     

Novel fused silica capillary columns: Surface modification through controlled doping of the preform-tube

A method has been developed for fabricating fused silica capillary columns which have specific surface properties but still retain the excellent strength, flexibility, and resilience of pure fused silica. By using the Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition process (MCVD), typically used for the production of optical fiber lightguides, inorganic dopants such as Al, Nd, Ge, and P can be introduced into the preform-tube by MCVD. Doped columns have a wide range of specific surface properties, and columns with undoped fused silica prepared by MCVD are more chemically inert and less acidic than columns prepared by conventional methods. This paper describes the method for fabricating capillaries and the initial studies to characterize them.     

Synergistic effect by high specific surface area carbon black as secondary filler in silica reinforced natural rubber tire tread compounds

The partial replacement of silica by high specific surface area and high structure Carbon Black (CB) N134 as secondary filler, keeping the same total filler content at 55 phr, shows a clear synergistic effect on overall performance. At low content of CB, i.e. in the range of 0–36 wt% of CB relative to total filler amount, the Payne effect and tan delta at both 0 °C and 60 °C change marginally, but thereafter gradually increase. Cure times are shortened in the presence of CB, facilitating an increase of productivity. Bound rubber content and mechanical properties show an optimum at 18 wt% of CB relative to total filler amount or at a ratio of silica/CB 45/10 phr. With regard to tire performance as indicated by the laboratory test results, the abrasion resistance, wet grip and ice traction can therefore be enhanced while maintaining the tire rolling resistance at the optimum level for this silica/CB ratio.     

Effects of the degree of surface modification on the rheological responses of precipitated silica suspensions in benzyl alcohol

Two types of precipitated silica powders modified by poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were suspended in benzyl alcohol and their rheological properties were investigated as a function of silica volume fraction, φ. The suspensions were classified into sol, pre-gel, and gel states based on the increase in φ. An increase in the degree of surface modification by PDMS caused gelation at higher φ. Plots of apparent shear viscosity against shear rate in the sol and pre-gel states of highly modified silica suspensions showed weak shear thickening behavior, while the same plots for silica suspensions with a low modification level exhibited shear thinning behavior. The dynamic moduli of hydrophobic suspensions in the pre-gel and gel states were dependent on the surface modification: the storage modulus G′ was larger than the loss modulus G″ in the linear region and these moduli increased with increasing φ, irrespective of the silica powder. The linear region of the φ range for the precipitated silica suspensions was wider than that for the fumed silica powders modified by PDMS suspended in benzyl alcohol, while the G′ value in the linear region for the precipitated silica suspensions was less than those for the fumed silica suspensions.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备光固化聚氨酯丙烯酸酯杂化材料的研究

以溶胶-凝肢法制备的硅溶胶为无机相,聚氨酯丙烯酸酯为有机相,以γ-甲基丙烽酰氧丙基三甲氧基硅烷(TMSPM)为两相间的偶联剂,制得了光固化杂化材料。研究了未固化的杂化体系的稳定性问题,并对其进行了结构表征和性能研究。无机相与有机相通过共价键相连。使得杂化体系光固化膜高硬度的获得并没有以柔韧性的损失为代价。在无机物含量较低时,聚氨酯丙烯酸酯／二氧化硅杂化体系先固化膜的耐磨性略有提高。     

橡胶-填料相互作用对丁苯橡胶/白炭黑复合材料性能的影响

本文研究了硅烷偶联剂原位改性白炭黑对溶聚丁苯橡胶(SSBR)性能的影响,结果表明,通过哈克转矩流变仪对含有偶联剂的SSBR/白炭黑混炼胶进行原位热处理后可明显减弱混炼胶的Payne效应,改善白炭黑在橡胶基体中的分散.原位热处理方法能够明显提高硫化胶的300%定伸应力,降低动态压缩温升,同时可使硫化胶在0℃附近具有较高的损耗因子(tanδ),60℃附近具有较低的tanδ.对不同聚合方式得到的丁苯橡胶,即溶聚丁苯橡胶与乳聚丁苯橡胶(ESBR)/白炭黑复合材料的力学性能及动态力学性能进行了研究,结果表明,白炭黑在SSBR2305中分散效果优于在ESBR1502中;采用偶联剂原位改性白炭黑可以使SSBR2305硫化胶获得与ESBR1502硫化胶相当的物理机械性能,更理想的动态力学性能,从而得到力学性能、抗湿滑性、滚动阻力及耐磨性更加均衡的理想轮胎材料.通过对具有不同偶联效率的SSBR/白炭黑体系的微观结构与性能研究发现,随偶联效率的增加,其结合橡胶含量增加,Payne效应减弱;高偶联效率的S-SBR具有较低的动态压缩温升及较好的耐磨性.     

高耐磨低生热NBR/TBIR复合材料的结构与性能

采用高反式-1,4-丁二烯-异戊二烯共聚橡胶(TBIR)对丁腈橡胶(NBR)进行改性, 制备了高耐磨、 低生热输送轮用白炭黑填充的NBR/TBIR橡胶纳米复合材料. 研究了NBR/TBIR橡胶纳米复合材料的交联密度、 物理力学性能及填料分散性, 探讨了材料的结构对性能的影响. 研究结果表明, 与纯NBR相比, NBR/TBIR橡胶纳米复合材料的硫化速率和交联密度随TBIR用量的增加而增大; 在保持NBR硫化胶基本力学性能、 耐老化性能和耐溶剂性能基本不变的前提下, TBIR的加入使NBR/TBIR硫化胶的耐磨性提高15%, 动态压缩生热降低5%, 动态压缩永久变形降低22%, 白炭黑分散水平提高; 与丁腈橡胶/顺丁橡胶[NBR/BR(80/20), 质量份数比]硫化胶相比, NBR/TBIR(80/20, 质量份数比)硫化胶具有更低的动态压缩生热和动态压缩永久变形及更好的填料分散性.     

Effect of silane coupling agent on the polymer‐filler interaction and mechanical properties of silica‐filled NR

The effects of filler loading and a new silane coupling agent 3‐octanoylthio‐1‐ propyltriethoxysilane (NXT silane) on the polymer‐filler interaction and mechanical properties of silica‐filled and carbon black‐filled natural rubber (NR) compounds were studied. Silica (high dispersion silica7000GR, VN2, and VN3) and carbon black (N330) were used as the fillers, and the loading range was from 0 to 50 phr. The loading of NXT silane was from 0 to 6 phr. Experimental results show that the maximum and minimum torques of silica and carbon black‐filled NR increase with increasing filler loading. With increasing filler loading, the scorch time and optimum cure time decrease for carbon black‐filled NR, but increase for silica‐filled NR. The minimum torque, scorch time, and optimum cure time decrease because of the presence of NXT silane. For the carbon black and silica‐filled NR, the tensile strength and elongation at break have maximum values, but the hardness, M300, M100, and tear strength keep increasing with filler loading. The mechanical properties of silica‐filled NR were improved in the presence of NXT silane. With increasing filler loading, the storage modulus of filled NR increases, but the loss factor decreases. Carbon black shows the strongest polymer‐filler interaction, followed by VN3, 7000GR, and VN2. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 573–584, 2005     

Fly ash particles and precipitated silica as fillers in NR/CR vulcanizates under thermal and thermal‐oil ageing

The loading effect of precipitated silica (PSi) and fly ash‐based silica (FASi) on mechanical properties of natural rubber/chloroprene (NR/CR) under thermal and thermal‐oil ageing was investigated with variation in NR content in the NR/CR blends. The selected results were compared with vulcanized NR/nitrile rubber (NR/NBR) blends. The cure time of CR vulcanizate was found to decrease with increasing NR content, but increased with silica fillers. The Mooney viscosity for CR vulcanizates reduced with increasing NR content. The addition of NR had no effect on tensile modulus and tensile strength for the FASi filled NR/CR, but the opposite trend was observed for the PSi filled NR/CR. The post‐curing effect was more significant in PSi filled NR/CR than in FASi filled NR/CR. The tensile strength of the NR/CR vulcanizates was slightly reduced after thermal ageing especially at high NR content, more extreme reduction being found by thermal‐oil ageing. The elongation at break of NR/CR with both silica fillers ranged from 400 to 900%. The hardness results were similar to the tensile modulus. The addition of PSi in NR/CR considerably increased the tear strength, but less pronounced effect was found for FASi. The resilience properties of NR/CR tended to decrease with increasing silica content. The compression set became poorer when NR content was increased. The PSi showed higher improvement in compression set than the FASi. The effects of silica and ageing on the mechanical properties for NR/CR vulcanizates were similar to those for NR/NBR vulcanizates. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.