Wet Sliding Abrasion of Natural Rubber Composites Filled with Carbon Black at Different Applied Loads

The wet sliding abrasion and abrasion behavior of carbon black (CB)-filled natural rubber (NR) composites were investigated using a Deutsche Industrie Normen (DIN) abrader and compared to their dry abrasion resistance. The results showed that water tended to lubricate the contact between the rubber and the abrader and thus the abrasion loss was reduced. At different applied loads, the abrasion mechanism of the filled vulcanizates was different. When the applied load was below the turning point, the rubber abrasion was mainly fatigue abrasion and the main factor to influence the abrasion was the dynamic loss factor tanδ of the rubber. When the applied load was above the turning point, the rubber abrasion was mainly pattern abrasion and the main factors to influence the abrasion were the mechanical properties, in particular tensile and tear strength.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Surface-modified Rutile Nanoparticles And Transparent Polymer Composites Thereof

Nanoparticles of rutile, a crystal modification of titanium dioxide, were synthesized in strongly acidic solutions by hydrolysis of titanium tetrachloride. The particles of average diameter 2nm were coated in situ with a layer of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) and isolated as a powder. Remarkably, dispersions of this powder in toluene were essentially transparent at the visible wavelengths but absorbed UV radiation over a broad wavelength range. The DBSA-coated rutile was also embedded in poly(styrene) and a poly(carbonate), resulting in polymer nanocomposites acting as visually transparent UV filters.     

Dynamic Rebound Behavior of Silica/Natural Rubber Composites: Fly Ash Particles and Precipitated Silica

This article investigated the elastic response of natural rubber (NR) compounds filled with silica from fly ash particles (FASi) and commercial precipitated silica (PSi), through a dynamic rebound test. The effects of silica content and initial drop‐height on the height and number of rebounds, dynamic stiffness, and the energy loss were of interest. The results suggested that the unfilled NR vulcanizates exhibited a greater elastic response than the FASi and PSi‐filled vulcanized composites. For given silica contents, the NR compounds with FASi had better elastic response than those with PSi, where the elastic response decreased with an increase in silica content. The greater the silica contents, the higher the dynamic stiffness of the composites. The initial drop‐height had no effects on the elastic response change for the unfilled NR compound, but resulted in an increase in the energy loss for the silica‐filled NR composites. The differences in the elastic responses for the NR compounds filled with silica from FASi and PSi were associated with the differences in crosslink density and the filler–filler interaction influenced by content of bis(3‐triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfane (designated as Si69) used.     

Effect of Wood Flour on the Curing Behavior,Mechanical Properties,and Water Absorption of Natural Rubber/Wood Flour Composites

The preparation of natural rubber/wood flour (NR/WF) composites and the influence of WF content, modification, and particle size on the vulcanizing behavior, mechanical properties, and water absorption of NR/WF composites are described. Results show that the addition of WF into NR delayed the scorching time and vulcanizing time of NR. The appropriate WF contents can improve the mechanical properties of NR. However, the overloading of WF destroys the mechanical properties of NR. The addition of WF increased the water absorption of NR. The silicone couple agents that were used to modify the WF had little effect on the water absorption of NR/WF composites. Decreasing the WF particle size enhanced the water absorption of NR/WF composites because the water-absorbing surface area increased with decreasing WF particle size. The water absorption of sisal-fiber-filled NR-based composites was larger than that of the WF-filled NR-based composites. A useful equation, w=ktⁿ , was inferred from the water absorption results to calculate the water absorption (w) of the NR/WF composites as a function of time (t), where k was a constant concerning the compounds’ character that was primarily determined by the WF's character and n was the power of time that was related to the NR's inherent character, such as cross-linking density, and primarily determined the water absorption rate.     

Synthesis of a New Nanosilica-Based Antioxidant and Its Influence on the Anti-Oxidation Performance of Natural Rubber

Nanosilica was modified with a silane coupling agent 3-Glycidoxypro- pyltrimethoxysilane (KH-560) and then reacted with p-aminodiphenylamine (RT) to obtain a new nanosilica-based antioxidant. Fourier transform infrared and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis measurements confirmed the successful grafting of RT to the nanosilica surface. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed that the nanosilica-based antioxidant could be homogeneously dispersed in a natural rubber matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry and TGA were used to measure the thermal oxidative behavior of rubber vulcanizates with different types of fillers. It was found that the thermal oxidative stability of rubber vulcanizates with the nanosilica-based antioxidant was improved to a greater extent than that with other fillers examined.     

Thermoplastic Elastomers Based on Natural Rubber/Polypropylene Blends: Effect of Blend Ratios and Dynamic Vulcanization on Rheological,Thermal, Mechanical,and Morphological Properties

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) based on natural rubber (NR)/polypropylene (PP) with different blend ratios were prepared and studied. The TPEs were obtained by dynamic vulcanization of NR/PP using a sulfur (S)/N-tert-butyl-2-benzothiazolesulphenamide (TBBS) and tetramethylthiuram disulphide (TMTD) curative system during processing in the melt state in an internal mixer equipped with cam rotors. Rheological, thermal, mechanical, dynamic, and morphological properties of the TPEs prepared were investigated. Based on this study a mechanism for the NR crosslinking was proposed where the sulfur vulcanization occurs through radical substitution in the forms of polysulfide bridges. The dynamic vulcanization process increases the stiffness of the NR phase in the TPEs and modifies the rheological and thermal behavior of the system compared to the behavior of the basic material PP. The crosslinked NR particles restrict the spherulitic growth and the regular arrangement of the spherulites of PP phase, decreasing the crystallinity degree. On the other hand, a reduction of mobility of the chain segments was also observed and, consequently, an increase of the T_g values. NR/PP TPEs with high content of NR showed superior mechanical performance compared to the uncrosslinked NR/PP blends in terms of tensile strength, Young's modulus and hardness. An increase of approximately 320% in Young's modulus values was obtained for the NR70/PP30 TPE compared to NR70/PP30. Morphological studies revealed the formation of large aggregates of NR domains in NR/PP TPEs which increased in size with an increase of the rubber content.     

Properties of Natural Rubber Vulcanizates/Nanosilica Composites Prepared Based on the Method of In-situ Generation and Coagulation

Using the characteristics of silica sol dispersing well in water and easy formation of silica gel when the silica sol is heated, by mixing a system of concentrated natural rubber latex and silica sol, the silica sol can in-situ generate SiO₂ particles when heated. After coagulation of the mixed system, natural rubber/nanosilica composites C(NR/nSiO₂) were obtained. The composites C(NR/nSiO₂) and their vulcanizates were studied using a rubber processing analyzer (RPA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of silica contents on the C(NR/nSiO₂) vulcanizates mechanical properties, cross-linking degree, Payne effect, dissipation factor (tanδ), and the particle size and dispersion of SiO₂ in NR were investigated. The results obtained were compared with the NR/SiO₂ composites based on traditional dry mixing of bale natural rubber and precipitated silica (white carbon black). The results showed that when using a sulfur curing system with a silica coupling agent (Si69) in C(NR/nSiO₂), the vulcanizate had better mechanical properties, higher wet resistance, and lower rolling resistance than those without Si69. In the composites C(NR/nSiO₂) and their vulcanizates, the SiO₂ particles’ average grain diameter was 60 nm, and the good-dispersion of the in-situ generated SiO₂ in the rubber matrix were a significant contribution to the satisfactory properties of C(NR/nSiO₂) composites and their vulcanizates.     

Investigation of Carbon Black Network in Natural Rubber with Different Bound Rubber Contents

A new method was applied to modify the surface activity of virginal carbon black (VCB). LA‐57, one kind of hindered amine light stabilizer, was adsorbed onto the carbon black surface through a strong shear force induced by the screws of a HAAKE internal mixer. The modified carbon black (MCB) was characterized by FT‐IR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The bound rubber content of the natural rubber (NR) compounded with MCB and VCB varied with the fraction of LA‐57 on the MCB surface. The nonlinear effect at small strains, generally referred as the Payne effect, was investigated in the rubber compounds based on the different bound rubber contents. The NR compound containing the lowest bound rubber content had an obvious Payne effect. Based on the bound rubber content, the types of filler network varied from direct contact mode to the joint rubber shell mechanism.     

纳米ZnO／石蜡复合相变材料的热物理性质研究

本文通过将纳米氧化锌（ZnO）颗粒加入熔融的石蜡（PW）并进行搅拌和超声制备了一种纳米ZnO／PW复合相变储能材料。为使纳米氧化锌在基体物质中分散均匀,在制备过程中使用了搅拌和超声以制备均匀的复合材料。使用扫描电镜观察其微观结构表明氧化锌在石蜡中分散良好。对所得ZnO／PW复合相变材料的相变温度、相变焓及导热系数等热物...     

Preparation and Characterization of Grafted Natural Rubber/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites

Vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) was grafted onto natural rubber (NR) in latex form, using potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. The VTES grafted NR (NR-g-VTES) was then further reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) by a mechanical mixing method with different GO loadings to get the rubber composite (GO/NR-g-VTES). The NR-g-VTES was characterized and confirmed by attenuated total teflectance-Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The effect of GO content on the curing characteristics and resulting mechanical properties of the GO/NR-g-VTES were studied and compared with neat NR filled with GO (NR/GO). The maximum and minimum torque and the tensile and tear strength of the NR-g-VTES/GO composites were higher than that of NR/GO. The samples containing low GO concentration showed maximum torque and tensile and tear strength. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the interaction between GO and NR-g-VTES was better than that of the GO-reinforced NR.     

Influence of Crosslink Density on Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Vulcanizates

Crosslink density is an important structural parameter for cured rubber. Natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates with different crosslink densities were obtained through using different sulfur and accelerator amounts and different accelerator types. The crosslink density was characterized by an ¹ H-NMR technique and its influence on mechanical properties, such as Shore A hardness, 300% modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break, of NR vulcanizates was investigated. The results showed that both the sulfur amount and the accelerator type and amount had an influence on the crosslink density of the NR networks. The relationship between total crosslink density and mechanical properties was also studied. The results, by changing either the sulfur or the accelerator amount, showed that tensile strength of NR vulcanizates reached maximum value when the total crosslink density was around 13.5 × 10^?5 mol/cm³, equivalently the average molecular weight of the intercrosslink chains (Mc) was around 7000 g/mol. The maximum value of tensile strength came from the balance between contributions of crosslink joints and stretch-induced orientation and/or crystallization of intercrosslink chains. The study on influence of total crosslink density on Shore A hardness and 300% modulus of NR vulcanizates showed that they both increased linearly with the crosslink density, the slopes were 2.7 ～ 3.0 cm³/10^?5 mol and 0.27 ～ 0.31 MPa cm³/10^?5 mol for Shore A hardness and 300% modulus, respectively, whether the crosslink density was varied by sulfur or accelerator.     

氧化铜纳米粒子的制备及其SERS特性

采用激光刻蚀法在水溶液中制备了氧化铜纳米粒子,刻蚀完成后将氧化铜胶体沉积在铝片上形成一层氧化铜岛膜.所得纳米粒子的紫外—可见吸收峰在280 nm处,表明所得为氧化铜.原子力显微镜观察表明所制得的纳米粒子具有椭圆状结构,长轴约为30～50 nm,厚度约为8 nm.扫描电镜图片显示氧化铜粒子沉积在铝基底后形成了大小在0.5...     

Carbon Black Filled Powdered Natural Rubber

Carbon black (CB) filled powdered natural rubber [P(NR/N234)] was prepared using a patented method of latex/CB coagulation technology. The influence of curing recipes and CB contents on the curing, mechanical, and dynamic properties were studied in depth, and the results were compared with that of NR/N234 compounds based on traditional dry mixing of bale NR and CB. The results showed that, compared with NR/N234, P(NR/N234) showed higher tensile strength, tear strength, rebound elasticity and flexibilities, and the antiabrasion properties were similar, while the dynamic temperature-build-up and dynamic compression permanent set were about 50% of that of NR/N234. The analysis based on scanning electron micrographs (SEM) and the Payne effect showed that the fine dispersion of CB in the rubber and the enhanced interaction between CB and rubber contributed to the excellent properties of P(NR/N234), sufficient that they make P(NR/N234) a potential material for the tread compounds of heavy-duty all-steel cord radial tires.     

Improved Dispersion of Carbon Nanoparticles Modified by Poly(Sodium 4-Styrenesulfonate) and Its Influence on the Properties of Natural Rubber Latex

A novel strategy of radical polymerization of sodium 4-styrenesulfonate on the surface of carbon black (CB) in the solid state was developed to prepare hydrophilic carbon nanoparticles (PNASS-CB). A high performance natural rubber latex (NRL)/PNASS-CB composite was produced by the latex compounding technique. Scanning electron microscope shows considerable improvement in the dispersion of PNASS-CB in rubber matrix. The lower degree of filler–filler networks and the stronger filler–rubber interaction of PNASS-CB in rubber matrix were confirmed by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Rheometric properties of NRL/PNASS-CB, like scorch time and optimum cure time, decreased. Tensile strength, tear strength, and elongation at break increased due to stronger interaction between the PNASS-CB and rubber matrix. Dynamic mechanical properties of the modified carbon nanoparticles further corroborated a significant contribution from the better dispersion and efficient load transfer of PNASS-CB on the static and dynamic mechanical properties of composites.     

Dynamic Fatigue Behavior of Natural Rubber Reinforced with Nanoclay and Carbon Black

The dynamic fatigue behaviors of natural rubber (NR) filled with carbon black (CB) and both nanoclay (NC) and CB at same hardness was evaluated using the stepwise increasing strain test (SIST) and long-term testing. Compared with NR/CB composites, NR/CB/NC nanocomposites exhibited higher fatigue-limited strain, stronger dynamic stress relaxation, and longer compression fatigue life. By examining the fracture morphologies, nonlinear viscoelastic behavior, and hysteresis loss of filled NR, it was found that NR, synergisticly reinforced by NC and CB, exhibited improved anti-fatigue ability than NR filled with CB due to stronger filler–filler interactions between NC and CB (a local filler network) and the high aspect ratio and typical lamellar structure of NC.     

Synthesis and Characterization of CdS Nanoparticles with Strong Electrolyte Behavior

The CdS nanoparticles whose structure is similar to a strong electrolyte were synthesized by the colloidal chemical method. The CdS nanoparticles with Cd²⁺-rich surface are capped by the electrically neutral ligand of 2,2-bipyridine (bpy), and the counterion, BPh₄ ^-, is adsorbed around the particle as balance charge. The donation from 2,2-bipyridine at 2-position to the Cd²⁺-rich surface of the CdS nanoparticles was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These CdS nanoparticles can redisperse in pyridine (py) or DMF, and have high stability. The determination of electroconductivity and the electrophoresis deposition in dilute solution containing the CdS nanoparticles further prove the rationality of the above electrolyte structure of the CdS nanoparticles.     

Stress-Strain Behaviors and Crosslinked Networks Studies of Natural Rubber-Zinc Dimethacrylate Composites

The stress-strain behaviors of natural rubber (NR)-zinc methacrylate (ZDMA) composite have been studied by uniaxial tension. The results indicated that there was a large reinforcement by ZDMA and the NR/ZDMA composites exhibited a high stress-softening effect. Meanwhile, the recovery stretch curve was close to the second stretch curve; thus a weak stress recovery of the composites was shown. The analysis of crosslink density indicated that the damage to the crosslink network was mainly due to the breakage of ionic crosslinks at low strain (100%). A more developed ionic crosslink network was formed at a higher content of ZDMA. When the vulcanizate is subjected to loading in tension, the ionic crosslink network will suffer the force first. Next, the slippage of ionic bonds will take place under the stress. A new ionic crosslink network might be formed rapidly after the ionic bonds were broken during the stretching. Therefore, it could not return to the initial state. The analysis of crosslink density and stress recovery indicated that the rubber chains could be adsorbed to the ZDMA aggregates due to the formation of poly-zinc methacrylate (PZDMA). A molecular analysis of NR/ZDMA composites is proposed in the last part of this article.     

ZnO纳米颗粒中的表面态发射特性研究

研究了不同粒径ZnO纳米颗粒样品(17～300nm)的时间光谱,通过对各粒径样品时间积分光谱的谱带结构进行高斯拟合解迭,发现光子能量位于ZnO谱带低能侧的高斯拟合成份Xc3的荧光中心波长随粒径的减小而红移,同时发光带的寿命也随之缩短.基于ZnO谱带低能侧的高斯拟合峰发光带强烈依赖于ZnO样品粒径的谱带特性,提出了与ZnO禁带内的表面态能级有关,同时研究表明,表面态在尺寸降到一定程度的纳米体系中起着重要的作用.     

Preparation and Characterization of CdHgTe Nanoparticles and Their Application on the Determination of Proteins

CdHgTe nanoparticles (NPs) with the emission in the near-infrared regions were prepared in aqueous solution, and were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectrometry, spectrofluorometry and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry. Based on the fluorescence quenching of CdHgTe NPs in the presence of proteins, a novel method for the determination of proteins with CdHgTe NPs as a near-infrared fluorescence probe was developed. Maximum fluorescence quenching was observed with the excitation and emission wavelengths of 500 and 693 nm, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.04 × 10⁻⁶–5.6 × 10⁻⁶ g ml⁻¹ for lysozyme (Lyz) and 0.06 × 10⁻⁶–6.1 × 10⁻⁶ g ml⁻¹ for bovine hemoglobin (BHb), respectively. The limits of detection were 13 ng ml⁻¹ for Lyz and 27 ng ml⁻¹ for BHb, respectively. Four synthetic samples were determined and the results were satisfied.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Conductive Polyaniline Nanoparticles Through Ultrasonic Assisted Inverse Microemulsion Polymerization

Polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles were prepared through ultrasonic assisted inverse microemulsion polymerization method. Polymerization of aniline was confined to a nanoreactor named water pool surrounded by surfactant molecules in the apolar continuous phase. The size of the PANI nanoparticles decreases with the decrease of the value. The spherical nanoparticles (10–50 nm) can further form the uniform submicrometer aggregates with a size of 200 400 nm induced by ethanol, and the size of the aggregate decreases with the decrease of the value. The morphology of aggregates as well as aggregation behavior of PANI nanoparticles were characterized by TEM. The polymerization rate, UV–vis absorption spectra, FTIR spectra, XRD, as well as the conductivity were examined at different [water]/[surfactant] molar ratio, i.e. value. Ultrasound enhances the polymerization rate of aniline that is usually very slow under conventional stirring in inverse microemulsion and contributes to produce spherical nanoparticles. Also, ultrasound irradiation promotes the diffusion of HCl molecules and improves the degree of doping. Polymerization of aniline occurred in the confined nanoreactor in microemulsion and strengthens the hydrogen-bonding of amine and imine of PANI molecular chains, which improves the degree of crystallinity. The conductivity of obtained PANI is in the magnitude of 10^-1 S cm^-1, and is changed with value.