English Abstract

Structure and Property Relationship in Nano-filler Loaded Cross-linked Rubbers
5. Filler Networks and Viscoelastic Properties of Filler Loaded Cross-linked Natural Rubber: New Proposal for Carbon Black/Natural Rubber Interaction

Atsushi KATO *1
Yuko IKEDA *2
Shinzo KOHJIYA *3
*1:Department of Materials Analysis, NISSAN ARC, LTD., Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
*2:Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Kyoto, Japan
*3:Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Nippon Gomu Kyokaishi,(2015),88(1),3-10 General Review in Japanese

Effect of the kind of nano-fillers on dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of the filler loaded crosslinked natural rubber (NR) is reviewed, where carbon black (CB), hydrophobic silica and hydrophilic silica are compared. 3D-TEM/electron tomography is utilized to measure a closest distance (dp) between centers of two neighboring nano-filler aggregates. Activation energies (ΔEJ' and ΔEJ") are calculated from temperature dependences of storage compliance (J') and loss compliance (J") of the filler loaded cross-linked NRs and are discussed with the dp values. An interaction layer between the nano-fillers and NR is suggested to be additionally composed of at least two layers with different viscoelastic energy levels. For the samples with CB loadings of 30 parts per one hundred rubber by weight or more, the CB/NR interaction layer (CNIL) is visualized by 3D-TEM, and the CNIL is proposed to be an origin of reinforcement effect using the parallel mechanical model.

(Received on April 30, 2014)
Keywords: Nano-filler, Crosslinking, Natural Rubber, Interaction Layer, Viscoelasticity