• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2011

Five natural rubber (NR) composites with different reinforcing systems of unfilled, carbon black, carbon black with silane coupling agent, silica, and silica with silane coupling agent were thermally aged and change of the crosslink densities by the accelerated thermal aging was investigated. The crosslink densities on the whole increased as the aging time elapsed irrespective of the reinforcing systems. The crosslink density changes became noticeable by increasing the aging temperature. For carbon black-filled composites, the silane coupling agent made the crosslink density change to be increased. For silica-filled composites, however, the silane coupling agent made the crosslink density increment reduced at 60 and $70^{\circ}C$ and it hardly affect the degree of the crosslink density change at 80 and $90^{\circ}C$. The activation energies for the crosslink density changes of the carbon black-filled samples increased continuously in a logarithmic fashion, whereas that of the silica-filled one showed a quasi-steady state ranges at aging times of 30-150 days. The activation energy of the unfilled sample increased exponentially with the aging time. The experimental results were explained with sulfur donation from the silane coupling agent, surface modification of the filler by the silane coupling agent, adsorption of curative residues on the silica surface, and release of the adsorbed curative residues.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.658-665
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• 2009

This study examined the effects of the sodium salts of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) on the dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of two sets of poly(styrene-co-sodium methacrylate) (MNa) and poly(styrene-co-sodium styrenesulfonate) (SNa) ionomers. When the DCA content was relatively low, the ionic moduli of the MNa and SNa ionomers increased but the matrix and cluster glass transition temperature ($T_g$) did not change significantly. The increasing ionic modulus was almost independent of the type of the ionic groups of the ionomer, and the chain length of DCAs. When a large amount of the sodium succinate (DCA4) was added to the MNa and SNa ionomers, the ionic moduli of the two ionomers increased strongly but the matrix and cluster $T_g's$ increased slightly and significantly, respectively. In the case of sodium hexadecanedioate (DCA 16), DCA 16 increased the ionic moduli of the two ionomers. The addition of DCA16 changed the matrix and cluster $T_g's$ of the MNa ionomer slightly, but decreased the cluster $T_g$ of the SNa ionomer significantly with no change in the matrix $T_g$. In addition, the DCA-containing ionomers showed an X-ray diffraction peak indicating the presence of ordered domains of DC As in the ionomers. Hence, DCA4 acts mainly as a reinforcing filler in MNa and SNa systems. In the case of DCA 16, it initially behaved like a filler but also functioned as a preferential plasticizer for the clusters at high content.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.97-101
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• 2009

The use of a filler material in epoxy composite materials is an essential condition for reducing the unit cost of production and reinforcing mechanical strength. However, the dielectric strength of insulators decreases rapidly due to interactions between the epoxy resin and filler particles. In contrast to existing composite materials, nano-composite materials have superior dielectric strength, mechanical strength, and enduring chemical properties due to an increase in the bond strength of the polymer and nano material, It is reported that nano-fillers provide new characteristics different from the properties of the polymer material. This study is to improve the insulation capability of epoxy resins used in the insulation of a power transformer apparatus and many electronic devices mold. To accomplish this, the additional amount of nano-$SiO_2$ to epoxy resin was changed and the epoxy/$SiO_2$ nano composite materials were made, and the fundamental electrical properties were investigated using a physical properties and an analysis breakdown test. Using allowable breakdown probability, the optimum breakdown strength for designing an electrical apparatus was determined. The results found that the electrical characteristics of the nano-$SiO_2$ content specimens were superior to the virgin specimens. The 0.4 wt% specimens showed the highest electrical properties among the specimens examined with an allowable breakdown probability of 20 %, which indicates stable breakdown strength in insulating machinery design.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.967-972
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• 2004

The role of transfer films formed during sliding of polymer composites against steel counterfaces was studied in terms of the tribological behaviors of composites. Four kinds of composites were included in this study: (1) unfilled PPS, (2) PPS+2%CuO, (3) PPS+2%CuO+5% carbon fiber (CF), and (4) PPS+2%CuO+15%Kevlar. The filler material CuO was in nanoscale particulate form and the reinforcing material was in the form of short fibers. The composites were prepared by compression molding at $310^{\circ}C$ and sliding tests were run in the pin-on-disk sliding configuration. The counterface was made of tool steel hardened to 55-60 HRC and finished to a surface roughness of 0.09-0.10 ${\mu}m$ Ra. Wear tests were run for 6 hrs at the sliding speed of 1 m/s and contact pressure of 0.65 MPa. Transfer films formed on the counterfaces during sliding were investigated using AFM and SEM. The results showed that as the transfer film became smooth and uniform, wear rate decreased. PPS+2%CuO+15%Kevlar composite showed the lowest steady state wear rate in this study and its transfer film showed the smoothest and the most uniform characteristics. The examination of worn surfaces of PPS+2%CuO composite using X-ray area scanning (dot mapping) showed back-transfer of steel counterface material to the polymer pin surface. This behavior is believed to strengthen the polymer pin surface during sliding thereby contributing to the decrease in wear rate.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.274-280
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• 1998

Order of reaction, rate constant, activation energy for vulcanization reaction, crosslinking density, and elastic constant of the network produced by sulfur curing were investigated on the SBR/BR blends containing silica and carbon black under same cure system. The reaction order was shown to be first order regardless of filler types. The carbon black filled rubber compounds showed higher rate constant compared to silica filled compounds. But activation energy appeared to be same regardless of filler type and rubber blend ratio. The crosslinking density and elastic constant is higher in the carbon black filled compound compared to silica filled compounds because of strong interaction between rubber and carbon black. On the other hand, crosslinking density and elastic constant were decreased with increasing the butadine rubber content in rubber blends. From the comparison of combined sulfur content in the vulcanized rubber, sulfur content in the silica filled compound become constant 20min later after reaction initiates but sulfur content in the carbon black filled compound become constant 10min later after reaction starts. The silica compound has a longer induction time ($t_2$) and optimum cure time($t_{90}$) compared to those of the carbon black filled compound.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.608-613
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• 1998

The purpose of this experiment was the physical properties of rubber compounds with DPCB and pure carbon black. Si-O peak in the silcia surface was observed at the range of wavenumber from 1,100 to 1,200 in the DPCB by FT-IR analysis. Cure rate of rubber compounds containing DPCB and organic silane coupling agent were (Si69) delayed compared with those containing pure carbon black. 300% modulus and interaction coefficient of DPCB with silane coupling agent were higher than those of pure carbon black and PICO weight loss amount showed constant value. It was found that $0^{\circ}C$ tan$\delta$ of rubber compounds with DPCB was larger than those of pure carbon black at 2.0% silane coupling agent based on 50 phr DPCB and $60^{\circ}C$ tan$\delta$ of rubber compounds with DPCB decreased as increasing the usage coupling agent. Consequently, it is postulated that DPCB is strong candidate material for lowering rolling resistance under constant abrasion resistance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.167-172
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• 2012

A new type of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) based on EPDM ionomer as an elastomer and polyamide-6 as a reinforcing crystalline polymer was prepared and the thermal properties of TPEs were investigated. Especially effects of neutralization of maleated EPDM (MA-EPDM) to prepare EPDM ionomer with zinc oxide and the content of polyamide-6 on the thermal properties of the blends were investigated. Both the neutralization and blending were carried out employing a twin screw extruder. It was found that the neutralization of MA-EPDM results in the increase of cooling crystallization temperatures. Polyamide-6 plays the role of reinforcing filler in the blends due to the high crystallinity. Fine dispesion of polyamide-6 in the blends was confirmed and attributed to the imide formation between the maleic anhydride of MA-EPDM and amine group of polyamide-6. TPEs based on EPDM ionomer/Polyamide-6 blends showed balanced mechanical properties with improvement in heat resistance.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.44-52
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• 2002

Composite materials are created by combining two or more component to achieve desired properties which could not be obtained with the separate components. The use of reinforcing fillers, which can reduce material costs and improve certain properties, is increasing in thermoplastic polymer composites. Currently, various inorganic fillers such as talc, mica, clay, glass fiber and calcium carbonate are being incorporated into thermoplastic composites. Nevertheless, lignocellulose fibers have drawn attention due to their abundant availability, low cost and renewable nature. In recent, interest has grown in composites made from lignocellulose fiber in thermoplastic polymer matrices, particularly for low cost/high volume applications. In addition to high specific properties, lignocellulose fibers offer a number of benefits for lignocellulose fiber/thermoplastic polymer composites. These include low hardness, which minimize abrasion of the equipment during processing, relatively low density, biodegradability, and low cost on a unit-volume basis. In spite of the advantage mentioned above, the use of lignocellulose fibers in thermoplastic polymer composites has been plagued by difficulties in obtaining good dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion because lignocellulose fiber is hydrophilic and thermoplastic polymer is hydrophobic. The application of lignocellulose fibers as reinforcements in composite materials requires, just as for glass-fiber reinforced composites, a strong adhesion between the fiber and the matrix regardless of whether a traditional polymer matrix, a biodegradable polymer matrix or cement is used. Further this article gives a survey about physical and chemical treatment methods which improve the fiber matrix adhesion, their results and effects on the physical properties of composites. Coupling agents in lignocellulose fiber and polymer composites play a very important role in improving the compatibility and adhesion between polar lignocellulose fiber and non-polar polymeric matrices. In this article, we also review various kinds of coupling agent and interfacial mechanism or phenomena between lignocellulose fiber and thermoplastic polymer.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2007

In this study, SBR (Styrene-butadiene rubber: solid content: 25 wt%) nanocomposites reinforced with carbon/organoclay(C18-MMT) were manufactured by a latex method. The SBR nanocomposites was made with the dual phase fillers. The mixing ratios, i.e. carbon black/C18-MMT, were 50/0, 49/1, 48/2, 47/3, 45/5, 44/6, 40/10. Total filler content of compounds was restricted to 50 phr. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of SBR nanocomposites with carbon black and C18-MMT were evaluated. The SBR nanocomposites containing 49/1 ratio of carbon black/C18-MMT showed good dispersity and excellent values of ODR torque, tensile strength, modulus and tear energy. It was found that the improvement of the mechanical properties was mainly due to the reinforcing effect, i.e., the improvement of dispersion of silicates in the rubber matrix.

• KSTLE International Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.60-65
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• 2003

Tribological properties of novolac resin composites containing particulate barite (BaSO$_4$) or potassium titanate (K$_2$Oㆍ6(TiO$_2$))whiskers (two typical space fillers for commercial automotive brake linings) were investigated. The emphasis of the current investigation was given to the effect of the two fillers on the propensity of the stick-slip phenomena and formation of stable rubbing surface. A block-on-disk type tribometer was used for friction assessment. Results showed that the BaSO$_4$-filled composite produced large friction force oscillations at slow sliding speeds and created severe damage on the gray iron counter surface. On the other hand, the composite with $K_2$Oㆍ6(TiO$_2$) whiskers formed a stable rubbing surface and showed smooth sliding behavior without large friction force fluctuation. The microscopic observation of the rubbing surface revealed that the $K_2$Oㆍ6(TiO$_2$)whiskers played a key role in the formation of stable rubbing surface and smooth sliding behavior by effectively reinforcing the resin.