Tailoring the Polymeric Nano-Particles for Rubber Reinforcement

ABSTRACT:Polymeric nano-particles with brush-like polydiene as the shell and corsslinked polystyrene as the core are synthesized using anionic polymerization via a self-assembly process of macromolecules in solutions. The microstructures of nano-particles were designed to match those of the matrix polymers used for a tire compound. In order to obtain the desired compound properties, polymer nano-particles with various shell sizes were tailored for compounding. Depending on the core-shell structures of the nano-partilces, the addition of the nano-sized particles may impart the ultimate physical properties of the compound. Well reinforced compounds with enhanced dynamical storage modulus without increasing its dependences on temperature and deformation strain along with lower high-temperature hysteresis can be obtained by the addition of the nano-particle with longer brush. Improved tensile mechanical properties were also attained by such reinforcement. The passenger and truck tire applications can be advantageously benefited from these improved properties with favorable and more stable tire performances such as better handling and cornering, and lower rolling resistance without sacrifices of others. A miscibility study was conducted on the binary blend of nano-particle in rubber matrix. The compatibility of the nano-particle in the matrix and its core concentration were demonstrated to be responsible for the observed improved compound properties.