pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S11 - Elastomers and thermoplastic Elastomers
Poster Presentation
 
 

Influence of viscoelastic filler network on reinforcement and dissipation of natural rubber nanocomposites.

Malebennur Nagaraja Sriharish (1)*, Mujtaba Anas (1), Beiner Mario (1)

(1) Fraunhofer-Institut für Mikrostruktur von Werkstoffen und Systemen IMWS - Halle - Germany

The interrelation between reinforcement and dissipation phenomena of elastomer nanocomposites is of interest to achieve an optimum of mechanical performance in elastomer products. Despite sustained studies, the microscopic origin of both the phenomena is still subject of debate. Results of recent studies suggest that the filler network in SBR filled with silica nanoparticles as a main contributor to reinforcement shows viscoelastic behavior. This is discussed to be arising from glassy bridges acting as viscoelastic elements formed by immobilized rubber in between the filler particles and demonstrated by strain sweeps performed at varied temperature(T)and frequency(ω)[1,2]. In this work, mechanical properties of natural rubber filled with structurally different fillers, carbon black(CB) and carbon nanotubes(CNTs), are investigated by dynamic shear measurements. We show based on the results of isochronal linear response measurements that a gradual decrease of storage modulus (G’) in the rubbery plateau region with increasing temperature is a common feature of highly filled rubbers. The interpretation is that immobilized rubber interacting with the filler surfaces is softening. Also, a significant increase in the loss modulus (G’’) in the same region occurs with increasing the filler fraction(Φ).This can be understood within the same physical picture. Further, the existence of viscoelastic elements in filler network is confirmed by comparing the Kraus fitting Parameters from an analysis of strain sweeps for rubbers with a Φ above the percolation threshold Φc at varied T and ω. An interesting observation is that the viscoelastic behavior of filler network is relying on filler network topology, filler-matrix interaction and geometry of the glassy bridges(3). Taking the analysis to the next step, possible interrelations between reinforcement and dissipation will be considered. Possible contributions to dissipation will be discussed and quantified based on strain Amplitude