ONE-STEP PROCESS TO MAKE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE THERMOPLASTIC VULCANIZATES FILLED WITH MWCNTs

Electrically conductive thermoplastic vulcanizates（TPVs） filled by multi-walled carbon nanotubes（MWCNTs） are prepared by a simple one-step melt mixing process,based on linear low density polyethylene（LLDPE） and ultrafme full-vulcanized rubber particles（UFRP）.An ideal morphology with controlled localization of MWCNTs in continuous LLDPE matrix and appropriate size of finely-dispersed UFRP can be achieved at the same time.The controlled localization of MWCNTs in the continuous phase facilitates the formation of conductive pathway,and thus the volume resistivity of the as-prepared LLDPE/UFRP/MWCNTs thermoplastic vulcanizates is significantly decreased.The results show that both the blend ratio of LLDPE/UFRP and the loading of MWCNTs have remarkable effect on the volume resistivity.Significantly, the electrically conductive TPVs exhibit good mechanical properties duo to the fine dispersion of UFRP in LLDPE.The added MWCNTs are capable of imparting reinforcement effects to thermoplastic vulcanizates with just a slight loss of stretchability and elasticity.

Preparation and Properties of Rare Earth Modified Carbon Black/Natural Rubber Composites

The oxides Eu, Ho, Er and Dy were used to prepare the hydroxides of rare earth modified carbon black. Then natural rubber latex （NRL） was added into the reactor. The system reacted at 85 ℃ with stirring for 1 h to prepare powdered HAF-Ln（OH）3/NR composites. The effects of the kind and content of Ln on the particle size distribution of P [ NR/HAF-Ln （OH）3 ] and mechanical properties of its vulcanizate were studied respectively. It is found that rare earth can help to get the powder of the composite, the product particle with a diameter less than 0.9mm will be get when the composites containing the compound of Ho, Er and Dy with dosage of 1.0, 1.0, O. 5 percent, respectively. The adding of Ln can improve the tensile strength and tear strength of the vulcanizate effectively, what＇s more, Er and Dy can decrease the permanent set of vulcanizate significantly. The SEM studies shows that P[ NR/HAF-Dy （OH）3 ] vulcanizate shows superior mechanical properties that depend primarily on the absence of free carbon black, the fine dispersion of carbon black in the rubber matrix and better polymer-filler interaction.

Studies on Mechanical and End-Use Properties of Natural Rubber Filled with Snail Shell Powder

A series of natural rubber-snail shell powder vulcanizates were compounded on a two-roll mill, and moulded on a compression moulding machine. The mechanical and end-use properties of the natural rubber vulcanizates were investigated at snail shell powder contents, 0 to 20 pphr. The snail shell powder was characterized for filler properties and sieved to 0.075, and 0.30 μm particle sizes. Carbon black was used as the reference filler. Results showed that the tensile strength, modulus, elongation at break, and resilience of the rubber vulcanizates were not enhanced on addition of snail shell powder. The hardness of the rubber vulcanizes were marginally increased at high snail shell powder content. However, the specific gravity of the rubber vulcanizates showed increases with increase in snail shell powder content. At a filler content above 5 pphr, snail shell powder exhibited good flame retardant property in the vulcanizates. The swelling indices of snail shell powder (0.075 μm) filled natural rubber were generally good, and better than those of snail shell powder (0.30 μm) filled natural rubber. Carbon black was found to show more property improvement for the natural rubber vulcanizates when compared to snail shell powder. Although the mechanical properties of snail shell powder filled natural rubber vulcanizates were not good, there were improvements in the end-use properties, an indication that snail shell powder could still find utilization in the rubber industry where specific end-use property of a rubber product is required.

Polyurethane-polysiloxane Copolymer Compatibilized SiR/TPU TPV with Comfortable Human Touch Toward Wearable Devices

Because of its softness,wear resistance,biocompatibility,extremely comfortable human touch,thermoplastic vulcanizate(TPV)comprised of silicone rubber(SiR)and thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU)(SiR/TPU TPV)is especially suitable for wearable intelligent devices.Nevertheless,developing good compatibilizer is still required to prepare high performance SiR/TPU TPV.In this study,three kinds of polyurethane-polysiloxane copolymer(PU-co-PSi)with different contents of polysiloxane segment were selected,and their compatibilization effect on SiR/TPU blends was studied using nanomechanical mapping technique of AFM.The results show that using PU-co-PSi with the highest content of polysiloxane segment(PU-co-HPSi),the interface thickness largely increases,and the average size of SiR dispersed phase largely decreases,indicating its good compatibilization effect.By using PU-co-HPSi as compatibilizer,SiR/TPU TPV with a fine SiR dispersed phase and good mechanical performance were successfully prepared.The mechanism on the compatibilization effect of these PU-co-PSi on SiR/TPU TPVs was revealed.

Payne Effect and Weak Overshoot in Rubber Nanocomposites

Payne effect and its associated weak overshoot are of importance for understanding and regulating the softening of rubber nanocomposites under large amplitude oscillations.Herein,Payne effect in diverse filled vulcanizates is investigated for generalizing the common characteristics.Master curves of strain amplitude dependent storage modulus are created with respect to microscopic strain amplitude of the matrix,revealing a matrix-dominated elastic nonlinearity being independent of type and dispersity of filler,crosslinking density and sol fraction of matrix and filler-rubber interfacial interactions.However,carbonaceous fillers with higher affinity to the rubber matrices yield lower strain amplification and higher overshoot behavior in comparison with siliceous silica.The investigation would be illuminating for preparing rubber nanocomposites with optimized reinforcement and softening performances.