Properties of Nanokaolin and Its Rubber Composites

A kind of nanokaolin powder with a thickness of 20-50nm and an average diameter of 300nm is produced through combined procedure of purification, delamination, surface modification and pulverization. The application experiments in butadiene rubber (BR), ethylene-propylene diene methylene (EPDM), and natural rubber (NR) indicates that this nano-kaolin powder material is much better than precipitated silica in reinforcement, while in styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) it is close to precipitated silica. Nanokaolin is of superiority in elasticity, elongation at break, anti-flexure property.

Dynamic Viscoelasticity of Polyester/Rubber Composites under Cyclic Loading

This paper focuses on the influence of dynamic viscoelasticity and surface temperature on the fatigue mechanism and fatigue lifetime of polyester/rubber composites. Rubber composites show significant viscoelasticity during fatigue process. The variations of dynamic elastic modulus, mechanical loss angle, loss energy per cycle exhibit different trend in fatigue initial stage and final stage. Due to high viscoelasticity high heat generation occurs under cyclic loading, which leads to a high surface temperature. It is found that the variation of specimen surface temperature depends strongly on cycling frequency and stress amplitude. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) observation and static residual stiffness studies reveal that the surface temperature affects fracture morphology and fatigue lifetime of rubber composites strongly because of heat aging.

Blast performance of layered charges enveloped by aluminum powder/rubber composites in confined spaces

A layered charge composed of the JH-2 explosive enveloped by a thick-walled cylindrical casing(active aluminum/rubber and inert lithium fluoride/rubber composites) was designed and explosion experiments were conducted in a 1.3 m3tank and a 113 m3bunker.The blast parameters,including the quasistatic pressure(ΔpQS),special impulse(I),and peak overpressure(Δpmax),and images of the explosion process were recorded,and the influence of the Al content(30% and 50%) and Al particle size(1,10,and 50 μm) on the energy release of aluminum/rubber composites were investigated.The results revealed that the use of an active layer increased the peak overpressure generated by the primary blast wave,as well as the quasistatic pressure and special impulse related to fuel burning within tens of milliseconds after detonation.When the Al content was increased from 30% to 50%,the increases of ΔpQS and I were not obvious,and Δpmaxeven decreased,possibly because of decreased combustion efficiency and greater absorption of the blast wave energy for layers with 50% Al.Compared with the pure JH-2charge,the charge with 1 μm Al particles produced the highest Δpmax,indicating that better transient blast performance was generated by smaller Al particles.However,the charge with 10 μm Al particles showed the largest ΔpQSand I,suggesting that a stronger destructive effect occurred over a longer duration for charges that contained moderate 10 μm Al.

A subregional model for delamination prediction of rubber composite under fatigue loading

Results from fatigue experiments of cross-laminated steel cord-rubber composites (SCRC) indicate that fatigue damage life can be categorized into three regimes. In terms of fatigue modes, a subregional fatigue model is developed to describe the damages evolution of SCRC under fatigue loads. Firstly, finite element analysis is introduced to determine interply stress distribution of the specimen. Then, based on the experimental fatigue data, subregional models are introduced to simulate relations between maximum strain, effective stiffness, delamination shear stress and fatigue cycles. Relations between crack density, delamination length growth rate, macro crack density and cycles are modeled by two semi-empirical models. A reasonable prediction result was achieved by the current model, where model parameters can be determined by basic outputs of fatigue testing.

Fatigue Damage Accumulation of Steel/rubber Composite

The fatigue damage accumulation of [±20°] laminated steel cord reinforced rubber composite under T-T loading was studied. Results indicate that the increase in the cyclic maximum strain exhibits three-stage tendency in the process of fatigue. The macroscopic fatigue damage initiates from the ends of steel cords in the form of cylindrical crack. Damage propagates along with the increase in crack numbers, the cord/matrix interface debonding and the growth of interply cracks. By using the dynamic creep as parameter, a linear fatigue damage accumulation model was established. This model can be used under dual loading conditions to estimate the residual fatigue life of the specimen.

Measurement of large deformation of nylon cord-rubber composite and effects of perpendicular loads on its stress-strain behaviors

Effects of transverse loads on longitudinal stress strain behaviors and longitudinal constant tensile loads on transverse stress strain behaviors of single ply of nylon cord rubber composite are studied respectively under biaxial tensile condition with cruciform specimen. Effects of transverse constant tensile load on longitudinal tensile mechanical properties are indistinctive compared with corresponding uniaxial longitudinal tensile mechanical properties. It can be relative to larger difference between longitudinal and transverse mechanical properties. Its dominating failure mode is typical fiber dominated mode; However, Experiment results indicate that transverse mechanical properties of nylon cord rubber composite with longitudinal constant tensile loads are distinct from its uniaxial transverse tensile mechanical properties. It can be attribute to action of longitudinal tension that makes material rigidify in the direction perpendicular to fiber, Mode of failure is representative of matrix dominated failure. For the measurement of large deformation up to 50 percent, a special CCD imaging method is employed in the experimental investigation that makes measurement of large deformations more precise.

Dynamic mechanical behavior and nonlinear hyper-viscoelastic constitutive model of SiO_(2) particle-reinforced silicone rubber composite:experimental and numerical investigation

SiO_(2)-particle reinforced silicon rubber composite(SP-RSRC)is a widely utilized material that offers shock absorption protection to various engineering structures in impact environments.This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the mechanical behavior of SP-RSRC under various strain rates,employing a combination of experimental,theoretical,and numerical analyses.Firstly,quasi-static and dynamic compression tests were performed on SP-RSRC utilizing a universal testing machine and split Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)apparatus.Nonlinear stress-strain relationships of SP-RSRC were obtained for strain rates ranging from 1×10^(−3) to 3065 s^(−1).The results indicated that the composite showed evident strain rate sensitivity,along with nonlinearity.Then,a nonlinear visco-hyperelastic constitutive model was developed,consisting of a hyperelastic component utilizing the 3rd-order Ogden energy function and a viscous component employing a rate-dependent relaxation time scheme.The model accurately characterized the dynamic mechanical response of SP-RSRC,effectively mitigating the challenge of calibrating an excessive number of material parameters inherent in conventional viscoelastic models.Furthermore,the simplified rubber material(SRM)model,integrated within the LS-DYNA software,was chosen to depict the mechanical properties of SP-RSRC in numerical simulations.The parameters of the SRM model were further calibrated based on the strain-stress relationships of SP-RSRC,as predicted by the developed nonlinear visco-hyperelastic constitutive model.Finally,an inverse ballistic experiment using a single-stage air gun was conducted for SP-RSRC.Numerical simulations of SHPB experiments and the inverse ballistic experiment were then performed,and the reliability of the calibrated SRM model was verified by comparing the results of experiments and numerical simulations.This study offers a valuable reference for the utilization of SP-RSRC in the realm of impact protection.

Electromagnetic wave absorption performance and rheological behavior of rubber composites with low mass filling rate carbon nanofiber aerogel

With the development of electronic information science and technology,electromagnetic information security and electromagnetic pollution become more and more serious.Electromagnetic wave absorption(EMWA)rubber based on the absorbent of carbon with low density and good corrosion resistance is a kind of good EMWA materials for solving electromagnetic information security and electromagnetic pollution.In this article,three-dimensional network structure carbon nanofiber aerogels(3DNSCAs)are prepared by vacuum annealing of three-dimensional network structure agarose/zinc acetate obtained by freeze-drying of agarose/zinc acetate gel.The EMWA rubber composites with 2.2%(in mass)3DNSCAs have almost the same density as silicone rubber(PDMS),and the dispersity of 3DNSCAs in PDMS is studied by rheological analysis.The effective absorption bandwidth(EAB,frequency for reflection loss<–10 dB)of the 2 mm thick PDMS/C-800 is 4 GHz,and the minimum value of reflection loss(RL_(min))is−52 dB with the thickness of 3.5 mm.The PDMS/C-1000 with the thickness of 3.5 mm has an EAB up to 4.8 GHz.Radar cross section(RCS)reduction of PDMS/C-800 can achieve 20 dB⋅m^(2) at the frequency of 6 GHz.

Comparison of nonlinear modeling methods for the composite rubber clamp

The cubic stiffness force model(CSFM)and Bouc-Wen model(BWM)are introduced and compared innovatively.The unknown coefficients of the nonlinear models are identified by the genetic algorithm combined with experiments.By fitting the identified nonlinear coefficients under different excitation amplitudes,the nonlinear vibration responses of the system are predicted.The results show that the accuracy of the BWM is higher than that of the CSFM,especially in the non-resonant region.However,the optimization time of the BWM is longer than that of the CSFM.

Enhancing thermal conductivity of silicone rubber composites by insitu constructing SiC networks:A finite-element study based on first principles calculation

Polymer composites as thermal interface materials have been widely used in modern electronic equipment.In this work,we report a novel method to prepare highly through-plane thermally conductive silicone rubber(SR)composites with vertically aligned silicon carbide fibers(VA-SiCFs)entangled by SiC nanowires(SiCNWs)networks.First,a series of carbon fibers(CFs)skeletons were fabricated in sequence of coating poor thermally conductive polyacrylonitrile-based CFs with polydopamine,icetemplated assembly,and freeze-drying processes.Furthermore,VA-SiCFs networks,i.e.,long-range continuous SiCFs-SiCNWs networks,based on the prepared CFs skeletons,were in-situ obtained via template-assisted chemical vapor deposition method.The thermal conductivity enhancement mechanism of VA-SiCFs networks on its SR composites was also intensively studied by finite element simulation,based on the first principles investigation of SiC,and Foygel’s theory.The in-situ grown VA-SiCFs networks possess high intrinsic thermal conductivity without the thermal interface between fillers,acting as the high-efficiency through-plane long-range continuous thermal conduction path,in which the SiCNWs were the in-plane“thermal spreader”.The VA-SiCFs/SR composites reached a high through-plane thermal conductivity,2.13 W/(m·K),at the filler loading of 15 vol.%,which is 868.2%,and 249.2%higher than that of pure SR sample,and random-CFs@polydopamine(PDA)/SR composites at the same content,respectively.The VA-SiCFs/SR composites also exhibited good electrical insulation performance and excellent dimensional stability,which guaranteed the stable interfacial heat transfer of high-power density electronic devices.

Mechanical Test and Meso-Model Numerical Study of Composite Rubber Concrete under Salt-Freezing Cycle

A composite rubber concrete(CRC)was designed by combining waste tire rubber particles with particle sizes of 3~5 mm,1~3 mm and 20 mesh.Taking the rubber content of different particle sizes as the influencing factors,the range and variance analysis of the mechanical and impermeability properties of CRC was carried out by orthogonal test.Through analysis,it is concluded that the optimal proportion of 3~5 mm,1~3 mm,and 20 mesh particle size composite rubber is 1:2.5:5.5 kinds of CRC and 3 kinds of ordinary single-mixed rubber concrete(RC)with a total content of 10%~20%were designed under this ratio,and the salt-freezing cycle test was carried out with a concentration of 5%Na 2 SO4 solution.The physical and mechanical damage laws during 120 salt-freezing cycles are obtained,and the corresponding damage prediction model is established according to the experimental data.The results show that:on the one hand,the composite rubber in CRC produces a more uniform“graded”structure,forms a retractable particle group,and reduces the loss of mechanical properties of CRC.On the other hand,colloidal particles with different particle sizes are used as air entraining agent to improve the pore structure of concrete and introduce evenly dispersed bubbles,which fundamentally improves the durability of concrete.Under the experimental conditions,the CRC performance is the best when the overall content of composite rubber is 15%.

Stability analysis of radial inflation of incompressible compositerubber tubes

The inflation mechanism is examined for a composite cylindrical tube composed of two incompressible rubber materials, and the inner surface of the tube is subjected to a suddenly applied radial pressure. The mathematical model of the problem is formulated, and the corresponding governing equation is reduced to a second-order ordinary differential equation by means of the incompressible condition of the material, the boundary conditions, and the continuity conditions of the radial displacement and the radial stress of the cylindrical tube. Moreover, the first integral of the equation is obtained. The qualitative analyses of static inflation and dynamic inflation of the tube are presented. Particularly, the effects of material parameters, structure parameters, and the radial pressure on radial inflation and nonlinearly periodic oscillation of the tube are discussed by combining numerical examples.

Crosslinked Natural Rubber and Styrene Butadiene Rubber Blends/Carbon Black Composites for Self-healable and Energy-saved Applications

Crosslinking natural rubber (NR) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) composites with carbon black (CB) have been utilized in the tire tread industry.A sulfur-based lightly crosslinker can potentially enhance the self-healing capabilities of rubber.Moreover,the rubber composites were studied for non-covalent interactions between the benzene rings of SBR and CB.In this research,rubber samples were prepared,and their structure was investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR),and Raman spectroscopy.The red shift in Raman spectroscopy confirmed noncovalent interaction or hydrophobic interaction between SBR and CB in NR/SBR composites exposed to CB due to environmental change.The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms showed that NR and SBR were incompatible.Additionally,the mechanical properties of these rubber blends were enhanced as the proportion of NR increased.The maximum self-healing performance reached 40%for the formulation containing 25 phr NR and 75 phr SBR,which also saved energy with low chain end movements.Therefore,these composites could be utilized as a semi-empirical model for studying crosslinked rubber blends,specifically in the rubber tire industry.

A strong and reversible adhesive fibrillar surface based on an advanced composite with high strength and strong adhesion

A material-structure integrated design method is proposed in this paper,with which micropillar and microwedge arrayed surfaces are fabricated based on a novel nanoparticlereinforced silicone rubber composite(NRSRC)with high mechanical strength and strong surface adhesion.It is found that the micropillar-arrayed surface and the microwedgearrayed surface show a normal adhesive strength of 50.9 kPa and a shear adhesive strength of 137.3 kPa,respectively,which are much higher than those of previously reported adhesive surfaces made by pure soft polymers.Furthermore,the micro-wedgearrayed surface shows not only strong and stable adhe-sion on rough and smooth substrates but also an obvious anisotropy in the adhesion property.The latter consequently leads to an easy control of the attachment/detachment switch,which is evidenced by a mechanical gripper with a microwedged surface.Therefore,firmly picking up and easily releasing a heavy glass plate can be realized.All these results demonstrate the apparent advantages of the present compo-sitebased fibrillar surfaces in achieving reliable and reversible adhesion and should have promising applications for manufac-turing advanced adhesive devices,such as mechanical fixtures,portable climbing equipment and space robots.

SYNTHESIS OF NATURAL RUBBER-g-MALEIC ANHYDRIDE AND ITS USE AS A COMPATIBILIZER IN NATURAL RUBBER/SHORT NYLON FIBER COMPOSITES

Natural rubber grafted maleic anhydride （NR-g-MAH） was synthesized by mixing maleic anhydride （MAH） and natural rubber （NR） in solid state in a torque rheometer using dicurnyl peroxide （DCP） as initiator. Then the self-prepared NR-g-MAH was used as a compatibilizer in the natural rubber/short nylon fiber composites. Both the fimctionalization of NR with MAH and the reaction between the modified rubber and the nylon fiber were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR）. Composites with different nylon short fiber loadings （0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 phr） were compounded on a two-roll mill, and the effects of the NR-g-MAH on the tensile and thermal properties, fiber-rubber interaction, as well as the morphology of the natural rubber/short nylon fiber composites were investigated. At equal fiber loading, the NR-g-MAH compatibilized NR/short nylon fiber composites showed improved tensile properties, especially the tensile modulus at 100% strain which was about 1.5 times that of the corresponding un-compatibilized ones. The equilibrium swelling tests proved that the incorporation of NR-g-MAH increased the interaction between the nylon fibers and the NR matrix. The crosslink density measured with NMR techniques showed that the NR-g-MAH compatiblized composites had lower total crosslink density. The glass transition temperatures of the compatibilized composites were about 1 K higher than that of the corresponding un-compabilized ones. Morphology analysis of the NR/short nylon fiber composites confirmed NR-g-MAH improved interfacial bonding between the NR matrix and the nylon fibers. All these results signified that the NR-g-MAH could act as a good compatilizer of NR/short nylon fiber composites and had a potential for wide use considering its easy to be prepared and compounded with the composites.

Rubber sheet strewn with TiO_2 particles: Photocatalytic activity and recyclability

A new method for the preparation of rubber sheet strewn with titanium dioxide particles （TiO2-strewn sheet） is presented. This simple and low cost method is based on the use of TiO2 powder （Degussa P25） being strewn onto the sheet made from rubber latex （60% HA） through a steel sieve. The characteristic of the TiO2-strewn sheet was studied by using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer （SEM/EDS） and X-ray diffractometer （XRD） techniques. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2-strewn rubber sheet was evaluated using Indigo Carmine （IC） dye as a model for organic dye pollutant in water. The results showed that the TiO2-strewn sheet could degrade IC dye solution under UV light irradiation. The effects of pH, initial concentration, and the intensity of UV light on the photodegradation were also investigated. Kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation was of the first-order reaction. The used TiO2-strewn sheet can be recovered and reused. The recycling uses did not require any cleaning between successive uses and no decline in the photodegradation efficiency was observed compared with freshly prepared TiO2-strewn sheet.