Surface Modification of Nitrile Rubber by Plasma Polymerization

Radio frequency plasma polymerization of vinylidene fluoride was used to modify the surface properties of nitrile rubber. The chemistry and frictional properties of the plasma films were characterized. FTIR transmission spectra and EDX analysis of plasma polymer films deposited on NaCl windows showed that the degree of fluorination of the plasma polymers increased as plasma power was increased from 25 to 50 W, and then decreased monotonically at higher powers. An estimation of the actual F/C ratio from EDX data indicated that the plasma polymer films contained approximately one fluorine atom for every 2–5 carbon atoms. Sliding friction tests on a Delrin countersurface showed that the coefficient of friction of the plasma treated rubbers was lower than untreated rubber, but slighly higher than rubber coated with silicone oil. Repetitive sliding friction testing showed that silicone oil treated samples had a longer lubricating lifetime than plasma treated samples. However, cyclic friction tests conducted with nitrile rubber o-rings yielded similar frictional behavior and lubricating lifetimes for silicone oil and plasma treatments. There was no correlation between chemical composition and the frictional and wear properties of the plasma films. Environmental scanning electron micrographs showed that the plasma films were brittle and tended to crack and flake off during wear testing.     

Study on microstructure and mechanical properties relationship of short fibers/rubber foam composites

Research on short fibers/rubber foam composites is rarely found in the literature. In this paper, microcellular rubber foams unfilled (MF), strengthened by pretreated short fibers (MFPS) and untreated short fibers (MFUS) are prepared, respectively. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the three composites have been studied via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mechanical testing, respectively. The SEM results show that both pretreated and untreated short fibers disperse uniformly in the composites and in bidimensional orientation. Moreover, the pretreated short fibers have much better adhesion with the rubber matrix than untreated ones. The experimental results also indicate that the introduction of short fibers is mainly responsible for the great enhancement of most mechanical properties of the microcellular rubber foams, and the good interfacial adhesion of the short fibers with the matrix contributes to the more extensive improvement in the mechanical properties. It is also found that the reinforcement effect of short fibers to compressive modulus strongly depends on the density of microcellular rubber foams, the orientation of short fiber and the deformation ratio. The compressive modulus of microcellular rubber foams at the normalized density less than 0.70 and beyond 0.70 is predicted by the modified Simple Blending Model and the Halpin-Kerner Model, respectively. The theoretically predicted values are in good accordance with the experimental results.     

环氧化橡胶及其合金的研究与应用

综述了国内外环氧化橡胶及其合金的研究现状和应用趋势,重点介绍了环氧化天然橡胶、环氧化聚丁二烯、环氧化苯乙烯-丁二烯-苯乙烯三嵌段共聚物及其合金的优点,以及影响其物理机械性能的因素和环氧化橡胶的发展方向。     

New double negative and positive temperature coefficients of conductive EPDM rubber TiC ceramic composites

In this paper, we have successfully prepared ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)/TiC composites as thermistors, with new double negative and positive temperature coefficients of conductivity (NTCC/PTCC). EPDM composites loaded with 50 phr HAF carbon black and different concentrations of TiC were prepared. This study focuses on the effect of TiC content on the vulcanization process, the network structure and the electrical and thermal properties of EPDM/TiC composites. The effect of TiC on the network structure was evaluated e.g. the curing process, the characteristic time constant during vulcanization, the volume fraction of rubber, gel fraction, interparticle distance between conductive particles, the extent of TiC reinforcement in the rubber matrix and molecular weight between cross-linking through experimental and affine-phantom models. The effects of TiC content on the percolation theory, electrical conductivity, conducting mechanism of conductivity, conducting hysteresis and I-V characteristics were also studied, as well as its TiC on the (NTCC/PTCC), thermoelectric power, dielectric constant and thermal conductivity. Stability and reproducibility of the thermal cycles for heating element applications was tested. Specific heat and the amount of heat transfer by radiation and convection as a function of TiC content was calculated using both the calorimetric technique and a theoretical model. It was proved that TiC improves the network structure, electrical and thermal properties of EPDM composites for practical applications.     

Phase-Separation Phenomena of Copolymer Solutions and Fractionation of Copolymers by Chemical Composition

Precipitation temperature-total polymer concentration diagrams for toluene solutions of two styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers different in chemical composition and their mixtures were determined and then triangular phase diagrams of this system were constructed from these diagrams. It is speculated from the triangular phase diagrams and experimentally shown that the copolymer may be effectively fractionated by chemical composition in this system.     

Novel test method to estimate bound rubber formation of silica-filled solution styrene-butadiene rubber compounds

Bound rubber formation was investigated in detail by applying various extraction temperatures (at room temperature, 90°C, and 180°C) and novel treatment methods (ammonia bubbling and sonication). Bound rubbers could be divided into three major components of core shell, primary layer including tightly primary layer and occluded rubber, and secondary layer including connecting filament. Bound rubber content of the core shell was measured by four successive procedures of extraction at room temperature, ammonia bubbling, extraction at 180°C and sonication. Bound rubber content of the tightly primary layer was measured by three successive procedures of extraction at 90°C, ammonia bubbling and sonication. Bound rubber content of the primary layer was measured by two successive procedures of extraction at 90°C and sonication.     

硅橡胶包覆十八烷/聚(St-MMA)储能微胶囊复合材料制备及热性能

以十八烷/聚(苯乙烯-甲基丙烯酸甲酯)(P(St-MMA))微胶囊为相变材料,硅橡胶作为载体,制备了十八烷/P(St-MMA)/硅橡胶复合材料。研究了微胶囊的加入方式及加入量,硅橡胶包覆方法。通过红外光谱(IR)和扫描电镜(SEM)研究复合材料的结构和形貌。通过力学性能测试如拉伸强度、扯断伸长率,确定最佳的加工方法。通过热重分析法(TG)、差示扫描量热法(DSC)和储热性能对复合材料的热性能进行研究。结果表明,十八烷制成微胶囊加入到硅橡胶中,且微胶囊加入量是2份时,十八烷/P(St-MMA)微胶囊/硅橡胶的热稳定性热稳定性及力学性能较好。室温硅橡胶包覆微胶囊掺混固化法制备的复合材料的力学性能优于直接共混后热固化法和混炼涂抹后热固化法。十八烷/P(MMA-St)/硅橡胶复合材料的焓值为67.6J/g,储能效果好。     

Synthesis and application of cinnamate-functionalized rubber for the preparation of UV-curable films

A butyl rubber derivative that can be cured upon exposure to UV light in the absence of additional chemical additives was developed. This polymer was prepared by the reaction of hydroxyl-functionalized butyl rubber with cinnamoyl chloride to provide a cinnamate functionalized rubber. The cinnamate content was varied by starting with derivatives prepared from butyl rubber containing either 2 or 7 mol% isoprene. The kinetics of the cross-linking was studied by UV–visible spectroscopy and it was found to vary according to the film thickness. The changes in gel content and volume swelling ratio with irradiation time were dependent on the cinnamate content. Toxicity studies suggested that the cross-linked materials do not leach toxic molecules. The approach was also applied to obtain cross-linked films of butyl rubber-poly(ethylene oxide) graft copolymers, leading to surfaces that resisted the adhesion and growth of cells. Thus the approach is versatile and is of particular interest when non-leaching coatings of cross-linked butyl rubber are desired for biomedical or other applications.     

Surface treatment of CaCO3 with a mixture of amino- and mercapto-functional silane coupling agents and tensile properties of the rubber composites

In order to reinforce the composite consisting of isoprene rubber (IR) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles, the surface treatment of CaCO₃ particles with a mixture of amino- and mercapto-functional silane coupling agents was investigated. The quantity of chemisorbed silanes in treated CaCO₃ measured using thermogravimetry was greater for amino- than for mercapto-silane and for the tri- than for the dialkoxy structure. Second, the molecular mobility of polycondensate of the mixtures with the trialkoxy structure measured using ¹H pulse nuclear magnetic resonance had the least molecular mobility, i.e., formed the highest density network. The greater values of stress at 500% strain, fracture stress, and elongation at break were determined for the treatment with amino- and mercapto-functional silanes having a trialkoxy structure from the stress-strain curves of composite. The mixture treatment with dialkoxy structure and with amino- or mercapto-functional silane only did not improve the mechanical properties sufficiently. Interactions between the amino group and the CaCO₃ surface, covalent bonding between the mercapto group and the IR, and high density network formation of trialkoxy silane were important for improving the mechanical properties of the composite.