Preparation and properties of water‐absorbent composites of chloroprene rubber,starch, and sodium acrylate

The effects of the amounts of starch, sodium acrylate (NaAA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on the properties of chloroprene rubber (CR)/starch/NaAA composites prepared by melting method were investigated. The results showed that the addition of starch improved the mechanical properties, but decreased the water‐absorbing capacity of the composite, most likely due to the decrease in the local concentration of the main water‐absorbing material sodium polyacrylate and the increase in crosslinking density of the composite resulting from the reaction between starch and CR. This reaction was verified by the vulcanized curves, DSC curves, and the cut surface morphology. The as‐prepared composite demonstrated higher water‐absorbing capacity, resulting from the incorporation of NaAA. The mechanical properties decreased with increasing the DCP loading, and the water‐absorbing ratio is the maximum at 1.0 phr DCP. The tensile strength of the composite decreased significantly after water immersion, due to the absorbed water acting as a plasticizer. The extracted component from composites after water immersion is mainly sodium polyacrylate according to Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy analysis. The morphology of the composites before and after water immersion was observed by optical transmission microscopy (OTM). The results indicated that the starch exhibits a good dispersion state, and the water‐absorbing capacity results primarily from sodium polyacrylate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of nanoalumina/EPDM composites with good performance in thermal conductivity and mechanical properties

In this paper, nanoalumina (Al₂O₃) highly filled ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) composites are prepared, and the mechanical (static and dynamic) properties and thermal conductivity are investigated systemically through various characterization methods. Furthermore, influences of in situ modification (mixing operation assisted by silane at high temperature for a certain time) with the silane‐coupling agent bis‐(3‐triethoxy silylpropyl)‐tetrasulfide (Si69) and stearic acid (SA) pretreatment on the nano‐Al₂O₃ filled composites are as well investigated. The results indicate that nano‐Al₂O₃ particles can not only perform well in reinforcing EPDM, but also improve the thermal conductivity significantly. Assisted by in situ modification with Si69, the mechanical properties (especially dynamic mechanical properties) of the nano‐Al₂O₃ filled composites are improved obviously, without influencing the thermal conductivity. By comparing to the traditional reinforcing fillers, such as carbon black (grade N330) and silica, in situ modified nano‐Al₂O₃ filled composites exhibit excellent performance in mechanical (static and dynamic) properties as well as better thermal conductivity, especially lower compression heat build‐up and better fatigue resistance. In general, our work indicates that nano‐Al₂O₃, as the novel thermal conductive reinforcing filler, is suitable to prepare rubber products serving in dynamic conditions, with the longer expected service life. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of thermoplastic elastomer from natural rubber grafted with polystyrene

Thermoplastic elastomer was prepared from deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) by graft-copolymerization of styrene, which was performed onto rubber particles of about 1 μm in diameter in latex stage with tert-butyl hydroperoxide/tetraethylenepentamine as an initiator. Suitable initiator concentrations were determined to be 3.3 × 10⁻² and 20 × 10⁻² mol/kg-rubber for the graft-coplymerization of styrene of 1.5 and 5.5 mol/kg-rubber, respectively, in which conversion and grafting efficiency of styrene were more than 90 mol% and 80 mol%, respectively. The resulting polystyrene, grafted onto the rubber particles, was characterized by size exclusion chromatography after ozonolysis. Morphology of the DPNR grafted with polystyrene (DPNR-graft-PS) was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Change in morphology after processing the DPNR-graft-PS at 150 °C was associated with change in mechanical properties, i.e. stress at strain of 1 and stress at break. The outstanding mechanical properties, maintained even after processing, were assigned to the thermoplasticity of the DPNR-graft-PS, based on the high conversion and high grafting efficiency.     

Effect of ionic liquid on dielectric, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polychloroprene rubber composites

This paper focuses on the influence of ionic liquid on carbon nanotube based elastomeric composites. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are modified using an ionic liquid at room temperature, 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulphonyl) imide (BMI) and modified MWCNTs exhibit physical (cation–π/π–π) interaction with BMI. The polychloroprene rubber (CR) composites are prepared using unmodified and BMI modified MWCNTs. The presence of BMI not only increases the alternating current (AC) electrical conductivity and polarisability of the composites but also improves the state of dispersion of the tubes as observed from dielectric spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy respectively. In addition to the hydrodynamic reinforcement, the formation of improved filler–filler networks is reflected in the dynamic storage modulus (E′) for modified MWCNTs/CR composites in amplitude sweep measurement upon increasing the proportion of BMI. Hardness and mechanical properties are also studied for the composites as a function of BMI.     

A new paradigm for the molecular basis of rubber elasticity

The molecular basis for rubber elasticity is arguably the oldest and one of the most important questions in the field of polymer physics. The theoretical investigation of rubber elasticity began in earnest almost a century ago with the development of analytic thermodynamic models, based on simple, highly-symmetric configurations of so-called Gaussian chains, i.e. polymer chains that obey Markov statistics. Numerous theories have been proposed over the past 90 years based on the ansatz that the elastic force for individual network chains arises from the entropy change associated with the distribution of end-to-end distances of a free polymer chain. There are serious conceptual objections to this assumption and others, such as the assumption that all network nodes undergo a simple volume-preserving linear motion and that all of the network chains have the same length. Recently, a new paradigm for elasticity in rubber networks has been proposed that is based on mechanisms that originate at the molecular level. Using conventional statistical mechanics analyses, Quantum Chemistry, and Molecular Dynamics simulations, the fundamental entropic and enthalpic chain extension forces for polyisoprene (natural rubber) have been determined, along with estimates for the basic force constants. Concurrently, the complex morphology of natural rubber networks (the joint probability density distributions that relate the chain end-to-end distance to its contour length) has also been captured in a numerical model (EPnet). When molecular chain forces are merged with the network structure in this model, it is possible to study the mechanical response to tensile and compressive strains of a representative volume element of a polymer network. As strain is imposed on a network, pathways of connected taut chains, that completely span the network along strain axis, emerge. Although these chains represent only a few percent of the total, they account for nearly all of the elastic stress at high strain. Here we provide a brief review of previous elasticity theories and their deficiencies, and present a new paradigm with an emphasis on experimental comparisons.     

Dynamic mechanical characterization of PMR polyimide/carbon fiber composites modified by fiber coating with silicones

Viscous and elastomeric silicones have been applied as interlayers to carbon fibers in order to develop a tougher, micro-crack resistant, thermally stable polyimide (PMR-15) composite. Carbon fiber is continuously coated with very high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyvinyl-methylsiloxane (PVMS). Dynamic mechanical properties of the composites have been determined and compared with uncoated carbon fiber reinforced PMR-15 polyimide composites. The presence of the interlayer is shown by the appearance of a new relaxation peak. The peak temperature is found to be a good indication of the degree of the cure of the silicone elastomer. Comparison of the storage moduli of uncoated and coated carbon fiber composites at the service temperature range of the composites indicates that the presence of the silicone interlayer affects the shear moduli of the composites. Apparent activation energy of the α transition of the matrix in the modified composites varies with the amount of interlayer and composition in concert with the impact strength.     

Carboxylated acrylo nitrile butadiene rubber latex/kaolin nanocomposites: preparation and properties

Carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR)–based nanocomposites with varying amounts of nanokaolin were produced by latex stage mixing. Sonication of the unmodified kaolin and the technique adopted for the preparation of the composite have helped to get a uniform dispersion of clay in XNBR matrix. Nanokaolin caused enhancement in the mechanical properties of the composites. Proper dispersion of the clay particles, partial exfoliation/intercalation of clay, and interaction of clay with the polar rubber latex made nanokaolin good reinforcing filler in XNBR latex. Swelling studies conducted in methyl ethyl ketone showed a decrease in the swelling index and solvent uptake confirming the hindrance exerted by clay and the possible clay–rubber interaction. Increase in complex modulus obtained from the strain sweep analysis is a further evidence for better rubber filler interaction. The composites were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and atomic force microscopy.     

The effects of polyethylene glycol and the coupling agent bis-(γ-triethoxysilylpropyl)-tetrasulfide (Si-69) on the interactions of silica-filled natural rubber

A Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis using Fresnel Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) was performed on silica-filled cis-1,4-polyisoprene. Silica filler's detrimental effects on zinc-activated cure systems has been well documented. The silane coupling agent bis-(y-triethoxysilylpropyl)-tetrasulfide (Si-69) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are industry standards used to offset the interactions caused by reaction between silica and the zinc-activated cure system. By adding PEG, it was found that the interaction peaks at 1040 and 1017 cm^-1 caused by the adsorption of natural rubber (NR) onto the surface of the silica were not formed. Also, by monitoring the zinc stearate peak at 1540 cm^-1, both Si-69 and PEG were found to reduce the soluble zinc ion reaction with the silica surface. Supporting evidence from the rheometer curves also shows that the additives reduce the cure retardation effects of the silica filler.     

Electrical and mechanical behavior of filled rubber. III. Dynamic loading and the rate of recovery

Following the earlier articles in this series, the changes in the electrical resistivity and mechanical behavior as a result of static and dynamic deformation have been studied. Cyclic shear and tensile loading were used to follow the changes in stress and resistivity with strain, including the recovery with time from the effects of a large strain as monitored by the small‐strain behavior. The recovery of resistivity from a prestrain was not complete even after 7 days at room temperature or at 50 °C, but swelling with a solvent and subsequent drying produced rapid recovery. It appears from the detailed results that there are two strain regions. Below about 10% the resistance and the modulus are strongly dependent on the filler–filler structure, which can break down and reform fairly readily, but the changes at higher strains are probably influenced by changes in the elastomer matrix and also by slippage at the filler–rubber interface. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1649–1661, 2005