Preparation and Properties of Organically Modified Montmorillonite/Nitrile Rubber Nanocomposites

A series of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT)/nitrile rubber (NBR) nanocomposites were prepared by a simple mechanical-mixing method. The structures of OMMT and the dispersion of OMMT in the rubber matrix were detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical properties of the NBR/OMMT nanocomposites were characterized, and the tribological behaviors of the nanocomposites were evaluated on a ring-block (MRH-3) wear tester. The results showed that the OMMT was homogeneously dispersed in the NBR matrix. The tensile strength of the OMMT/NBR nanocomposites increased with increasing OMMT contents. Both the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear of the nanocomposites decreased remarkably with increasing OMMT content. In addition, the influence of the applied load on the tribological properties of the nanocomposites is discussed. It is expected that the research may be of aid in the rational design and use of solid, self-lubricating nanocomposites under different loading states.     

Influences of Branched Side Chains and Cross‐linking Network on the Solid State Structures of Oligo‐ and Poly (p‐phenyleneethynylene)s

To investigate the influences of side chains and cross‐linking network on the packing fashion and the formation of aggregates and excimers of poly(p‐phenyleneethynylene)s (PPEs) chains in the solid state, a series of cross‐linkable unsubstituted oligo (p‐phenyleneethynylene)s (OPEVs) and alkoxy‐substituted PPEs (EO‐PPEVs) with vinyl end‐groups were synthesized and characterized. By a thermal cross‐linking reaction, cross‐linked polymers were obtained. The oligomer chains in the cross‐linked polymers containing no residual vinyls are packed randomly, forming no aggregates or excimers; however, aggregates and excimers exist in the cross‐linked polymers if they contain residual vinyls. The chains of EO‐PPEVs with sterically hindered side chains form aggregates in films. The network, leading to a pronounced increase of the film photoluminescence quantum yields, can depress these aggregates. These EO‐PPEVs are fully processable and can become insoluble in normal organic solvents after thermal curing; therefore, they are favorable candidates as active layers for fabrication of high performance multilayer devices.     

Dynamically Vulcanized Nitrile Butadiene Rubber/Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Terpolymer Blends Compatibilized by Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Block Copolymer

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/ acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) blends were prepared by dynamic vulcanization, and then compatibilized by styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS). The effects of SBS compatibilizer on mechanical properties, Mullins effect, and morphological properties of the TPVs were investigated systematically. Experimental results indicated that SBS had an excellent compatibilization effect on the dynamically vulcanized NBR/ABS TPVs. The tensile strength increased from 9.4 to 15.8 MPa and the elongation at break went through a maximum value when the dosage of SBS was only 1 phr. Mullins effect results showed that the compatibilized NBR/ABS TPV had relatively lower residual deformation and internal friction loss than the NBR/ABS TPV, indicating the improvement of elasticity. Morphology studies showed that the vulcanized NBR particles were dispersed evenly in the TPVs and the dimensions of NBR particles were decreased remarkably with the incorporation of SBS compatibilizer.     

Damping Properties of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Rubber/Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Blends

The damping and mechanical properties of ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber (EVM)/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) blends, with BIPB (bis (tert-butyl peroxy isopropyl) benzene) as curing agent, were investigated by DMA. It was proved by mechanical performance, DMA and crosslink density data that a chemical crosslinking reaction occurred between EVM and NBR. A new tan δ peak appeared between 40°C and 60°C in EVM/NBR = 80/20, which we suggest was due to a new molecular chain generated between EVM and NBR. Thus, the effective damping temperature range (EDTR) of EVM/NBR = 80/20 was widened from 31.6°C of EVM and 31.7°C of NBR to 40.7°C. The addition of sulfur, as a curing agent for NBR, greatly raised the height of the damping peak of EVM/NBR blend, but only slightly widened the EDTR at a cost of deterioration of mechanical performance. Zinc diacrylate (Zn (Ac)₂), as a possible graft addition to the blends, enlarged the damping peak of EVM/NBR, especially widening the EDTR of EVM/NBR = 80/20 to 50.9°C, but with a decline of mechanical properties. PVC was partially miscible with EVM/NBR blends and dramatically widened the EVM/NBR = 80/20 EDTR to 62.4°C.     

Morphology, mechanical, cross-linking, thermal, and tribological properties of nitrile and hydrogenated nitrile rubber/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites prepared by melt compounding: The effect of acrylonitrile content and hydrogenation

The purpose of this work was to prepare nanocomposites by mixing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with nitrile and hydrogenated nitrile elastomers (NBR and HNBR). Utilization of transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering techniques (SAXS and WAXS) for advanced morphology observation of conducting filler-reinforced nitrile and hydrogenated nitrile rubber composites is reported. Principal results were increases in hardness (maximally 97 Shore, type A), elastic modulus (maximally 981 MPa), tensile strength (maximally 27.7 MPa), elongation at break (maximally 216%), cross-link density (maximally 7.94 × 10²⁸ m⁻³), density (maximally 1.16 g cm⁻³), and tear strength (11.2 kN m⁻¹), which were clearly visible at particular acrylonitrile contents both for unhydrogenated and hydrogenated polymers due to enhanced distribution of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and their aggregated particles in the applied rubber matrix. Conclusion was that multi-walled carbon nanotubes improved the performance of nitrile and hydrogenated nitrile rubber nanocomposites prepared by melt compounding.     

Thermal,flexural, and impact strength studies on phenolic novolac resin/acrylonitrile–butadine rubber blends

Phenolic novolac resin was modified with nitrile rubber (NBR) using resol as compatibilizer. These systems were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, flexural and impact strength. The resin was prepared by varying percentage of NBR. The curing behavior of unmodified and NBR-modified phenolic resin has been studied. The results reveal that the exothermic heat of cure for NBR-modified system increases due to the participation of the double bond of butadiene. In addition, the impact strength and flexural strain increase with increasing percentage of NBR in the phenolic resin matrix.     

Damping Properties of Blends Based on EVM

The mechanical and damping properties of blends of ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber (VA content >40% wt) (EVM)/ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM) and EVM/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), both with 1.4 phr BIPB (bis (tert-butyl peroxy isopropyl) benzene) as curing agent, were investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The effect of added polyvinyl chloride (PVC), amido donor N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfonamide (CZ), and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a substitute curing agent, on the damping and mechanical properties of both rubber blends were studied. The results showed that in EVM/EPDM/PVC blends, EPDM was immiscible with EVM and could not expand the damping range of EVM at low temperature. PVC was miscible with EVM and dramatically improved the damping property of EVM at high temperature while keeping good mechanical performance. In EVM/NBR/PVC blends, PVC was partially miscible with EVM/NBR blends and remarkably widened the effective damping temperature range (EDTR) from 41.1°C for EVM/NBR to 62.4°C. Curing agents BIPB and DCP had a similar influence on EVM/EPDM blends. DCP, however, dramatically raised the height of tan δ peak of EVM/NBR = 80/20 and expanded its EDTR to 64.9°C. CZ had no obvious influence on the EVM/EPDM blends cured with BIPB. However, a small content of CZ enlarged the tan δ peak of EVM/NBR = 80/20 in both height and width, but at the cost of a deterioration of mechanical performance.     

Synthesis of a Homopolymer of Oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) Attached to Alternate Carbons of a Main Chain Polyethylene and Its Liquid-Crystalline and Optical Properties

A homopolymer of oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)s OPE-attached polyethylene (OPE-PE) was prepared through the thermal addition polymerization of the vinyls in a synthesized mono-vinyl end-capped OPE. The liquid-crystalline and optical properties of the synthesized homopolymer of OPE-PE were studied using polarizing optical microscopy (POM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and photoluminescence (PL). The results show that the arrangements of the rigid side chains in the homopolymer of OPE-PE are affected by the flexible main chains in both liquid and solid states. Through a suitable treatment of the film, the formation of aggregates and excimers in the solid state can be avoided. This result provides a new method to eliminate the formation of aggregates and excimers in the active layers of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) devices, and this kind of homopolymer with OPE side chains could be a promising class of light-emitting materials.     

1-羟基-5-十六烷氧基-萘LB膜的荧光光谱研究

１┐羟基┐５┐十六烷氧基┐萘ＬＢ膜的荧光光谱研究李小灵赵冰吴玉清徐蔚青吴英（吉林大学超分子结构与谱学开放实验室长春市１３００２３）Ｓｔｒｕｃｔｒｕｅｏｆ１┐ｈｙｄｒｏｘｙ１┐５┐ｈｅｘａｄｅｃｙｌｏｘｙ┐ＮａｐｈｔｈａｌｅｎｅＬＢＦｉｌｍｓＳｔｕｄ...     

Morphology and Physical Properties of ABS/NBR: The Effect of Melt Viscosity of SAN and the Content of NBR

In several acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, some amounts of polybutadiene (PB) laTeX grafted with styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer were replaced by acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) copolymer, and the variations of morphology, mechanical properties, and rheological properties were examined. The impact strength of ABS, with a bimodal distribution of rubber size, was improved by the presence of the NBR, which distributes coarsely in the SAN matrix. Yield behavior in the rheological response due to the presence of rubber particles in the SAN matrix was enhanced by the coarser NBR particles, especially at high temperature.     

Properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends and their foams

Abstract

Thermoplastic elastomers and their foams were prepared by blending elastomeric acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and rigid poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with various PLA compositions ranging between 0 and 40%. The thermal and mechanical properties and the morphologies of the blends with various PLA contents were investigated through universal testing machine, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope analysis. The rheological properties during gel formation were in situ monitored through the evolution of torque with curing time. Furthermore, the microcellular structures and physical properties of the NBR/PLA foams prepared using organic blowing agents were studied. The NBR/PLA blends showed a two-phase morphology made of a continuous NBR matrix and micron or submicron nodules and the tensile strength and modulus; also, hardness of the NBR/PLA blends increased with the increase of the added PLA content. While the foamed samples exhibited a similar cell structure and foaming ratio to that of the pure NBR, the cell formation was considerably reduced as the added PLA content exceeded 30%. We conclude that the mechanical properties of NBR thermoplastic elastomer as well as its foams can be controlled by a judicious introduction of rigid and biodegradable PLA.     

In Situ Dynamic Vulcanization of Poly(Vinyl Chloride)/Acrylonitrile-butadiene Rubber Blends

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) blends can be obtained through a dynamic vulcanization process as a melt-processible thermoplastic elastomer which produces parts that look, feel and perform like vulcanized rubber with the advantage of being processible as a thermoplastic material. In this study, a vulcanized thermoplastic was obtained by in situ dynamic vulcanization of PVC/NBR blends using a sulphur/ tetramethylthiuram disulphide (TMTD) and mercaptobenzothiazyl disulphide (MBTS) curative system during processing at the melt state. The blends were melt-mixed using a Haake Rheomix 600. The curing behavior of NBR was then investigated by a Monsanto rheometer. The thermal analyses were performed and the cross-linking at different mixing times was calculated using DSC. FT-IR was also performed for characterization of the blends. The cross-link densities of the samples were measured by a swelling method. The degree of cure increases with the mixing time. The cross-linking formation was verified through the formation of C─ S bonds in the blends.     

The Effect of Epoxidized Natural Rubber and Two Kinds of Organoclay upon Molecular Interaction,Structure and Mechanical Properties of (Styrene-Butadiene Rubber/Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber/Organoclay) Nanocomposites

Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR50) and two different kinds of organoclay (C30B and C15A) were used in blends of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and their effects upon interaction between phases, morphology, and mechanical properties of the blends were investigated. The compounds were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The obtained results showed formation of hydrogen bonding between the compounds ingredients due to incorporation of C30B, especially in presence of ENR. AFM and FE-SEM analysis revealed good dispersion of the nanoparticles in the polymer matrix upon addition of ENR as well as better dispersion of C30B than C15A in the NBR phase. XRD results showed a greater expansion of the silicate layers by simultaneous use of organoclay and ENR Incorporation of organoclay alone or in combination with ENR in the blends caused shifting of the SBR T_g toward the NBR T_g. The tensile properties of the blends showed improvement by using nanoparticles in the presence of ENR.     

Atomic-force microscopy of submicron films of electroactive polymer

Atomic-force microscopy is used to study the supramolecular structure of submicron films of electroactive thermally stable polymer (polydiphenylenephthalide (PDP)). It has been demonstrated that PDP films produced using centrifuging are solid homogeneous films with thicknesses down to several nanometers, which correspond to two or three monomolecular layers. The film volume is structurized at thicknesses greater than 100 nm. The study of the rheological properties of solutions used for film production yields a crossover point that separates the domains of strongly diluted and semidiluted solutions. A transition from the globular structure to the associate structure is observed in films that are produced using solutions with a boundary concentration. A model of the formation of polymer film that involves the presence of associates in the original solution is discussed.     

Novel volumetric analysis technique for characterizing the solubility and diffusivity of hydrogen in rubbers

We introduce a volumetric analysis technique to characterize the solubility of hydrogen dissolved in polymers and its diffusion coefficient by electrical capacitance measurement electrodes to determine the water level in graduated cylinders. This new and simple technique measures the volume of hydrogen released from rubber inside a graduated cylinder after a sample is exposed to high-pressure hydrogen and subsequent decompression. A diffusion analysis program is utilized to determine the total uptake (C₀) and diffusivity (D) of hydrogen, which are used to calculate the solubility (S) and permeability (P). This method is applied to spherical rubber samples of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and fluoroelastomer (FKM), which are potential sealing materials for H₂ energy infrastructures. C₀ follows Henry's law for all samples. No sample size and pressure dependence is observed for S, whereas an appreciable size dependence for the three rubbers is detected for D. The uncertainty is evaluated by considering uncertainty factors that affect the measurement. The correlation between D and density of rubber is found. The developed method can be utilized as a standard test for the transport properties versus pressure of various polymer membranes regardless of the sample shapes and size.     

Intermolecular interactions in Langmuir-Blodget films of liquid crystalline perylene derivatives

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films formed of some discotic liquid crystals, namely 3,4,9,10-tetra-(n-alkoxy-carbonyl)-perylenes, mixed with arachid acid have been studied. The absorption and fluorescence spectra were recorded. The results obtained have led to conclusions about formation of self-aggregates of dye molecules both in ground and excited states at the air-solid substrate interface. It was found that some fraction of J-aggregates can be created in the ground state. In the excited state, mostly excimers appear and the number of this kind of aggregates depends on the length of the alkyl chains substituted to the perylene core, as well as on the dye concentration and the number of layers in LB films.     

Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber Blends Prepared Via Dynamic Vulcanization

Dynamically vulcanized blends based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) were prepared and characterized. The mixing torque and dynamic rheology analyses showed that the NBR phase increased the viscosity of the blends. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the NBR phase was in the form of spherical particles dispersed in the PVDF phase during dynamic vulcanization. Comparing PVDF-rich and NBR-rich blends, the size of the rubber particles in the NBR-rich blends were larger than those in PVDF-rich blends. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that the addition of the NBR phase reduced the PVDF crystallinity and T_m. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the dynamically vulcanized PVDF/NBR blends had a higher residual char mass than the neat PVDF and NBR. For PVDF-rich blends, the PVDF can be highly toughened by NBR; the Izod impact strength of the PVDF/NBR (70/30) blend was 77.5 kJ/m², which was about six times higher than that of pure PVDF. For rubber-rich blends, the PVDF component was beneficial to the mechanical properties of the blends, which can be used as thermoplastic elastomers.     

Investigation of Abnormal Long‐Wavelength Fluorescence Emissions Occurring in Binary Organic Nanoparticle Films

In some fluorophores with planar groups, a long‐wavelength emission band different from their native one can sometimes be observed. The main cause of this long‐wavelength band is excimer formation. It is generally accepted that once condensed in the solid state, whether fluorophores can exhibit excimer emission or not depends only on their molecular structure and packing. However, here it is shown that there are exceptions when fluorophores are present in nanoparticles (NPs), where excimer emission can be affected by the environment surrounding the NPs, even in the solid state. It is found that in some binary NP films consisting of fluorophore NPs and other NPs, unusual long‐wavelength bands ascribed to excimer emission can be activated, even though these bands are absent from the photoluminescence spectra of the pure fluorophore NP films. This finding is beneficial to better understand and control excimer emissions. In addition, such a binary NP system provides an ideal platform to investigate the interplay between two fluorophores, because it keeps them effectively separated while maintaining suitable spatial distances for exciton migration and dipole–dipole interactions. This work also provides evidence for the long‐debated origin of the green emission band (g‐band) of fluorene‐based fluorophores.     

Effect of the Rubber Components on the Mechanical Properties and Braking Performance of Organic Friction Materials

Vegetable oil modified phenolic resin (PF) mixed with four kinds of rubber modifiers, i.e., styrene butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene 2-vinyl pyridine rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, and carboxyl nitrile butadiene rubber (CNBR), were used as matrices for organic friction materials. The mechanical and thermal degradation properties of all of the blends were investigated. Friction and braking tests of the organic friction materials based on the different matrices and reinforced with hybrid fibers were carried out. The results showed that the resin was most compatible with CNBR; the CNBR/PF blend possessed much higher impact and toughness, and the friction material based on this blend as a matrix exhibited better friction and braking performance. It was concluded that CNBR, the rubber with the most reactive groups, resulted in better mechanical properties of the friction material, and hence optimized the friction, wear and braking performances.     

Effect of Compression Pressure on the Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM)/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Copolymer (NBR) Rubber Blends Filled with Different Types of Carbon Black

Blends of ethylene-propylene diene terpolymer/acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer (EPDM/NBR) loaded with different types [(N326-HAF) and (N774-SRF)] and ratios of carbon black (CB) fillers were prepared. The mechanical properties of the EPDM/NBR rubber blends unloaded and loaded with different ratios of CB were investigated. Among the blends, the one with 75% EPDM and 25% NBR, both loaded and unloaded with CB, were found to exhibit the highest tensile strength and elongation at break. The observed changes in the mechanical properties of the blends were correlated to the morphology as observed by scanning electron microscopy. The changes of the electrical resistivity of the rubber blend composites during compression were investigated. The experimental results were explained from the position that an external pressure induces either an increase or decrease of the resistivity of the blend composites according to whether annihilation or creation of effective conductive paths occurs, respectively.