Search Results (4)

A comparative study focusing on the visco–elastic properties of two series of carbon black filled composites with natural rubber (NR) and its blends with butadiene rubber (NR-BR) as matrices is reported. Strain sweeps at different temperatures are performed. Filler network-related contributions to reinforcement ($\Delta G^{\prime }$) are quantified by the classical Kraus equation while a modified Kraus equation is used to quantify different contributions to dissipation ($\Delta G_D^{″}$, $\Delta G_F^{″}$). Results indicate that the filler network is visco-elastic in nature and that it is causing a major part of the composite dissipation at small and intermediate strain amplitudes. The temperature dependence of filler network-related reinforcement and dissipation contributions is found to depend significantly on the rubber matrix composition. We propose that this is due to differences in the chemical composition of the glassy rubber bridges connecting filler particles since the filler network topology is seemingly not significantly influenced by the rubber matrix for a given filler content. The underlying physical picture explains effects in both dissipation and reinforcement. It predicts that these glassy rubber bridges will soften sequentially at temperatures much higher than the bulk $T_g$ of the corresponding rubber. This is hypothetically due to rubber–filler interactions at interfaces resulting in an increased packing density in the glassy rubber related to the reduction of free volume. From a general perspective, this study provides deeper insights towards the molecular origin of reinforcement and dissipation in rubber composites. Full article

Carbon black-reinforced rubber compounds based on the blends of natural rubber (NR) and butadiene rubber (BR) for tire sidewall applications were formulated to investigate the self-healing efficacy of a modifier called EMZ. This modifier is based on epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) modified with hydrolyzed maleic anhydride (HMA) as the ester crosslinking agent plus zinc acetate dihydrate (ZAD) as the transesterification catalyst. The influence of EMZ modifier content in sidewall compounds on processing characteristics, reinforcement, mechanical and fatigue properties, as well as property retentions, was investigated. Increasing the content of EMZ, the dump temperatures and Mooney viscosities of the compounds slightly increase, attributed to the presence of extra polymer networks and filler–rubber interactions. The bound rubber content and Payne effect show a good correction that essentially supports that the EMZ modifier gives enhanced filler–rubber interaction and reduced filler–filler interaction, reflecting the improved homogeneity of the composites. This is the key contribution to a better flex cracking resistance and a high fatigue-to-failure resistance when utilizing the EMZ modifier. To validate the property retentions, molecular damages were introduced to vulcanizates using a tensile stress–strain cyclic test following the Mullins effect concept. The property retentions are significantly enhanced with increasing EMZ content because the EMZ self-healing modifier provides reversible or dynamic ester linkages that potentially enable a bond-interchange mechanism of the crosslinks, leading to the intermolecular reparation of the rubber network. Full article

Kraft lignin was modified by using hydroxymethylation to enhance the compatibility between rubber based on a blend of natural rubber/polybutadiene rubber (NR/BR) and lignin. To confirm this modification, the resultant hydroxymethylated kraft lignin (HMKL) was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. It was then incorporated into rubber composites and compared with unmodified rubber. All rubber composites were investigated in terms of rheology, mechanical properties, aging, thermal properties, and morphology. The results show that the HMKL influenced the mechanical properties (tensile properties, hardness, and compression set) of NR/BR composites compared to unmodified lignin. Further evidence also revealed better dispersion and good interaction between the HMKL and the rubber matrix. Based on its performance in NR/BR composites, hydroxymethylated lignin can be used as a filler in the rubber industry. Full article

Natural rubber/butadiene rubber (NR/BR) blends are widely used in industrial areas for absorbing vibrations and shocks because of their excellent elastic stability. However, when an industrial-equipment surface is exposed to sunlight and oxygen over a long period of time, the rubber hardens. As a result, the tensile properties of the rubber material and the behavior of the strain-energy density function are changed, greatly reducing the performance of the rubber product. However, only a few experimental studies on the aging characteristics of NR/BR blends are available, and it is difficult to find a study that analyzes the organic relationship of the changes in the mechanical (stress–strain curves, strain-energy density, etc.) and chemical (cross-linked structure, crosslink density, etc.) properties. In this study, a swelling test was performed on an aged rubber compound, and the result was substituted into the Flory–Rehner equation to obtain the quantitative crosslink density. The results revealed a linear relationship between the strain-energy density (SED) and the crosslink density (CLD) when the cross-linked structure increase was represented by a parallel spring model. Finally, the relationship between the strain-energy density and the crosslink density was summarized as a formula, and a method for predicting the aging behavior of NR/BR blends using the crosslink density was proposed. Full article