Rheological properties of elastomeric nanocomposites with organically modified Montmorillonite clays, as possible replacements or supplements to classical active fillers, such as carbon black or ...silica, have been intensively studied in recent years. Possessing large specific surface areas acquired through the melt-mixing processes of elastomeric intercalation and subsequent filler exfoliation, the clay particles have indeed proved to be highly eligible reinforcing and thermally stabilizing ingredients for application in elastomers. In fact, their performance has shown to be in many respects superior to that of classical fillers, particularly owing to some unusual, though beneficial, exhibited properties. Namely, apart from uncommonly high surface activity, manifested by creation of a host of van der Waals type secondary linkages with elastomer molecules, the main curiosity of clay filler is its dissipative action. Using dynamic mechanical functions under different deformational and temperature conditions, as means for rheological characterization of nanocomposites, the foregoing nano-scale traits are clearly reflected in substantial stiffness at low strains and, unexpectedly, dwindling energy loss with increasig filler content and/or decreasing temperature. Besides, rheological analysis of this kind, together with appropriate theoretical grounds, has enabled elucidation of peculiar conduct, as well as macroscopic insight into the very nature of secondary interactions in elastomers.
Dynamic mechanical properties of non‐polar and polar elastomer‐based nanocomposites with Montmorillonite clay are studied in order to ascertain differences caused by elastomer's polarity. Natural as ...non‐polar and polychloroprene as polar rubber are used to experimentally verify predictions based on different nature of elastomer‐clay interactions in the two cases. The properties foretold and elucidated in terms of van der Waals interactions in the non‐polar case and dipole‐dipole interactions in the polar case agree well with experiment, concurrently sustaining general depiction of these unusual nanocomposites.
Despite the existence of a solid theoretical basis interrelating various mechanical properties of elastomers, the complexity of these materials and strong dependence of characteristic material ...parameters on deformational and temperature conditions cause insuperable difficulties in establishing accurate relations between the crosslinking properties of elastomeric compounds and crosslinked elastomers in practice. Since knowledge of such presumably nonlinear relations would be valuable for several reasons, this work attempts to uncover these relations using methods of soft computing, in particular neural networks. The resulting relations obtained by neural network analysis have proved to be incontestably good and completely in accordance with expectations, thus contributing to proficiency in dealing with elastomeric materials, as well as curtailing possibilities of testing redundancy.
The work presents an approach of studying rheological properties of elastomeric composites with organically modified Montmorillonite clay, as nanofiller, by deformational, temperature and content ...dependence of their dynamic mechanical functions, i.e. the storage and loss moduli. Within this frame a theoretical model has been used, which, apart from elucidation of dynamic functions, also enables determination of characteristic energies for deformational and thermal breakdown of the nanocomposite internal secondary structure.
The work deals with mechanical properties of NBR based compounds of diverse ACN contents by rheological treatment of their secondary structure breakdown under different conditions. Dynamic ...experimental methods have been used for this purpose, carrying out measurements of frequency, deformation and temperature dependence of their dynamic mechanical functions. Apart from academic significance, such rheological characterization is essentially importat for recasting of these materials into demanding rubber products.
