Polymer processing
Shirin Shokoohi; Ghasem Naderi
Abstract
Elastomer vulcanizates based on natural rubber (NR), NR reclaim (NRR) and layered silicates were compounded in an internal mixer and cured on a two-roll mill. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of samples based on 50NR/50NRR reinforced with Cloisite 20A, Cloisite 30B and Nanolin DK1 were ...
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Elastomer vulcanizates based on natural rubber (NR), NR reclaim (NRR) and layered silicates were compounded in an internal mixer and cured on a two-roll mill. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of samples based on 50NR/50NRR reinforced with Cloisite 20A, Cloisite 30B and Nanolin DK1 were compared to those of conventional NR/NRR/kaolin microcomposites. Due to the light/soft nature of organoclays suppressing the friction forces, the minimum torque values decreased in the presence of organoclays, whereas the crosslink density, evidenced by the difference between the maximum and minimum torque values, increased in all samples and scorch times shortened by 37% to a minimum in the presence of Nanolin alkaline/catalytic role in the cure reaction. Fatigue resistance improved by about 10% benefiting the crack tips blunting/energy consuming hysteresis mechanisms motivated by the organoclays among which Nanolin DK1 provides the most efficient dispersion/distribution of nanolayers by faster intragallery crosslinking reactions that pushes the stacks apart. Higher states of dispersion in this sample would also promote strain-induced crystallization under deformation responsible for the improvements seen in the modulus and elongation-at-break. Two-step mixing sequence further improved the compound performance due to the dispersion state progress confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (20% in fatigue resistance and 53% in tensile modulus). In-situ compatibilization through bis(triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide bi-functional silane coupling agent also promoted modulus and fatigue resistance. However, a prolonged scorch time was observed due tothe blinded NR cure-reactive sites as well as steric hindrance of large functional groups in the presence of this coupling agent.
Polymer processing
Amir Mostafapour; Ghasem Naderi; Mohammad Reza Nakhaei
Abstract
In this study, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomeric (TPO) nanocomposites were fabricated by friction stir processing. The effect of different pin geometries on clay dispersion and mechanical properties of the TPO nanocomposite reinforced with 3% wt nanoclay has been first investigated. The optimum pin ...
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In this study, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomeric (TPO) nanocomposites were fabricated by friction stir processing. The effect of different pin geometries on clay dispersion and mechanical properties of the TPO nanocomposite reinforced with 3% wt nanoclay has been first investigated. The optimum pin geometry namely threaded cylindrical pin was then used to fabricate the nanocomposites containing 3, 5 and 7 wt% nanoclay. The results showed that increase in the clay content increased the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the nanocomposite from 15.8 to 22.76 MPa and 568 to 751 MPa, respectively. The experimental stress – strain curves of nanocomposites were compared with eight constitutive models including Mooney – Rivlin, the second-order polynomial, Neo – Hookean, Yeoh, Arruda – Boyce, Van der Waals and the third- and sixth-order Ogden. The comparisons showed that there was an agreement between the experimental data and the sixth-order Ogden model. Three micromechanical models Halpin – Tsai, inverse rule of mixture and linear rule of mixture were applied to investigate the Young’s modulus of nanocomposites. Because of the significant difference between the Young’s modulus obtained from these models and the ones obtained from experimental data, a modifying factor was used to improve the theoretical predictions obtained from the models.
Structure and property relationship
Fateme Khademeh Molavi; Sedigheh Soltani; Ghasem Naderi; Rohollah Bagheri
Abstract
A novel mixing approach for achieving a good dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in ethylene- propylene diene monomer (EPDM) matrix has been investigated. In this approach EPDM was modified with vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) during melt mixing. In addition the effect of MWCNT concentration ...
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A novel mixing approach for achieving a good dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in ethylene- propylene diene monomer (EPDM) matrix has been investigated. In this approach EPDM was modified with vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) during melt mixing. In addition the effect of MWCNT concentration on mechanical and rheological properties of modified EPDM has been studied. The formulated composites by this method exhibited significantly enhanced physical properties even at very low nanotube concentration. The grafting reaction was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) peak at 1070 and 1250 cm-1according to Si-O and Si-C vibration. The state of dispersion of the fillers in the polymer matrix was evaluated through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), In addition surface topology was studied with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that VTMS-grafted on the EPDM surface improved the dispersion of MWCNTs in the matrix. The rheological characteristics have been studied by rubber process analyzer (RPA). Some properties such as storage modulus (Ǵ) and complex viscosity (η^*) increased with increasing MWCNT content. It was found that at concentration of 2 wt.% MWCNT, the nanocomposites exhibited notably enhanced mechanical properties such as modulus and tensile strength.
