A Comparative Study of Nano-Fillers Effects in Rubber Composites

Wednesday, April 25, 2012: 8:30 AM
Texas Ballroom B (Crowne Plaza Riverwalk San Antonio)
Maurizio Galimberti1, Michele Coombs1, Valeria Cipolletti1, Luca Giannini2, Theonis Ricco3, Stefano Pandini3, Lucia Conzatti4, Marco Mauro5 and Gaetano Guerra6, (1)Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy, (2)Pirelli Tyre, Milano, Italy, (3)Chemistry and Physics for Engineering and Materials, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy, (4)CNR-ISMAC UOS Genova, Genova, Italy, (5)Chimica, Università di Salerno, Fisciano (Salerno), Italy, (6)Chimica, Universita di Salerno, Fisciano (Salerno), Italy
A comparative study of nano-fillers effects in rubber composites

 Maurizio Galimbertia,b, Michele Coombs,a, Valeria Cipollettia,, Luca Giannini,b, Theonis Riccòc ,

Stefano Pandinic, Lucia Conzattid, Marco Mauroe, Gaetano Guerrae

aPolitecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, Milano (I)  bPirelli Tyre, Viale Sarca 222, Milano (I) 

cUniversità degli Studi di Brescia, Via Valotti 9, Brescia (I)  dCNR-ISMAC UOS Genova, Via De Marini 6, Genova (I)  eUniversità di Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano (SA)(I)

 In the field of rubber composites, nano-fillers are largely investigated and increasingly applied [1-3]. They promote substantial enhancement of composites properties such as fluidity, stiffness, strength and impermeability, as a function of type and amount of nano-filler.

In the light of the large number of data and results available, it seems that time has come at least to attempt a rationalization.  This presentation is a contribution in this direction.

Rubber nano-composites are discussed based on the following nano-fillers: clays such as montmorillonite and hydrotalcite, pristine and organically modified, carbon nanotubes, high surface area graphite, from nano-graphite to few layers graphene. Composites, uncrosslinked and upon peroxide and sulphur curing, were studied through transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile and dynamic-mechanical as well as DC electrical conductivity measurements.

In the case of layered nano-fillers, mechanisms for nano-composites formation and ways to control the degree of order in the direction orthogonal to the structural layers, that is to control the number of stacked layers, are discussed. The ability of nano-fillers to give rise to the filler networking phenomenon was investigated, determining the nano-filler concentration required to achieve the filler percolation. The non linear behaviour at low strain amplitude of nano-composites was investigated and the ultimate properties were determined.

These studies were performed on nano-composites based either on a neat or on a carbon black filled rubber matrix.

Correlations between composites properties and nano-filler content are presented and a detailed discussion is given, taking into account nano-fillers specific features such as for example the aspect ratio.

 [1] “Rubber Clay Nanocomposites – Science, Technology, Applications” M. Galimberti Editor, Wiley and Sons, First Edition: October 2011

[2] J.R. Potts, D. R. Dreyer, C. W. Bielawski, R. S. Ruoff “Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites” Polymer 2011, 52, 5-25

[3] L. Bokobza, Multiwall carbon nanotube elastomeric composites.: A review, Polymer 48 (2007) 4907-4920