Tensile and Tear Behavior of Anisotropic Double Networks of a Black-Filled Natural Rubber Vulcanizate

1998 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 846-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Hamed ◽  
M. Y. Huang

Abstract Double networks of a black-filled natural rubber composition have been prepared by partially curing a sheet, stretching it, and then completing cure. Upon release, a double network retracts to a residual extension ratio, αr. Samples cut perpendicular to the stretch direction have stress—strain responses like the isotropic single network, while parallel samples have enhanced stiffness and tensile strength, and reduced extensibility. Tensile strength is rather weakly dependent on αr. Tear strengths of the double networks, determined using edge-cut strip specimens, exceed that of the single network for low αr. However, when αr is high, double networks have very low tear strengths. Consistent with previous studies, high tear strengths are associated with extensive longitudinal cracking.

1994 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Santangelo ◽  
C. M. Roland

Abstract It was found that at low residual strains, the modulus of double network rubbers can be less than that of an isotropic elastomer of equal crosslink density. At higher residual strains, the equilibrium modulus is higher for the double network. This aspect of the behavior of networks was investigated using two phenomenological descriptions of rubber elasticity, the Mooney-Rivlin (MR) and the Roth, Martin, and Stiehler (RMS) Equations. Calculations using either approach, which make use of the independent network hypothesis, were qualitatively in agreement with the experimental data. The tensile strength of double networks based on natural rubber were found to be independent of the amount of residual strain. This is true even at higher residual strains, wherein the modulus is significantly amplified. This suggests that the conventional compromise between modulus and failure properties can be circumvented using double network rubbers. Their utilization can yield elastomers of better mechanical properties.


2005 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Hamed ◽  
K. Umetsu

Abstract Gum and black-filled double networks of cis-1,4 polyisoprene, crosslinked with sulfur donors, have been prepared by first partially curing sheets, then stretching them and completing cure. Double networks are anisotropic and exhibit a residual extension ratio λr, which is higher for filled compared to gum samples. Additionally, double networks of filled specimens have higher anisotropy than gum counterparts, presumably because carbon black promotes chain alignment and strain-crystallization. Tensile specimens cut parallel to the stretch direction are stiffer, less extensible, and sometimes stronger than simple isotropic networks, while perpendicular specimens have stress-strain responses much like that of the isotropic control.


2013 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedayatollah Sadeghi Ghari ◽  
Zahra Shakouri

ABSTRACT Research was undertaken on natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites with organoclays. A double-network (DN) structure is formed when a partially cross-linked elastomer is further cross-linked during a state of strain. Two methods were used in the preparation of NR/organoclay nanocomposites: the ordinary method (single-network NR nanocomposite) and double-networked NR (DN-NR) nanocomposites. The single-networked NR nanocomposites were used for comparison. The effects of organoclay (5 phr) with a different extension ratio on curing characteristics, mechanical properties, hardness, swelling behavior, and morphology of single- and double-networked NR nanocomposites were studied. The results showed that double-networked NR nanocomposites exhibited higher physical and mechanical properties. The tensile strength of DN-NR nanocomposites increased up to 33 MPa (more than four times greater than that of pure NR) and then decreased with an increasing extension ratio. Modulus and hardness continuously increased with an increased extension ratio. The microstructure of the NR/organoclay systems was studied by X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The effects of different extension ratios on the dispersion of organoclay layers in the nanocomposites were investigated. Generally, results showed that the optimized extension ratio in DN nanocomposites was equal (or about or around) to α= 2.


2005 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wang ◽  
G. R. Hamed ◽  
K. Umetsu ◽  
C. M. Roland

Abstract Double network elastomers were prepared by curing under strain previously-crosslinked natural rubber or styrene-butadiene copolymer. The rubbers were reinforced with carbon black, so that the conventional (singly-cured) materials exhibited a substantial Payne effect, reflecting agglomeration of the filler particles. This effect was much reduced in the double networks - the storage modulus varied more weakly with strain amplitude, and the mechanical hysteresis was substantially smaller. Comparable results were obtained for dynamic mechanical measurements employing different test geometries; that is, the effect is independent of the direction of the strain relative to the orientation of the double network. These results indicate that deformation during the imposition of a second network disrupts the carbon black agglomerates, and this deflocculated structure is stabilized by the second crosslinking. Thus, double network processing is a general means to lower the hysteresis of filled rubbers.


2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syeda A. Hussain ◽  
Michelle S. Hoo Fatt

Abstract Tensile tests were conducted to obtain the deformation and failure characteristics of unfilled natural rubber (NR) and natural rubber with 25, 50, and 75 phr of N550 carbon black filler under quasistatic and dynamic loading conditions. The quasistatic tests were performed on an electromechanical INSTRON machine, while the dynamic test data were obtained from tensile impact experiments using a Charpy impact apparatus. In general, the modulus of the stress-extension ratio curves increases with increasing strain rate up to about 407, 367, 346, and 360 s−1 for unfilled, and 25, 50, and 75 phr for filled NR, respectively. Above these strain rates, the unfilled and filled natural rubber stress-extension ratio curves remained unchanged. The modulus increased with increasing strain rate because there was little time for stress relaxation. Above a critical strain rate, no change in modulus was observed because the time of the experiment was short compared to the lowest characteristic relaxation time of the material. Dynamic stress-extension ratio curves did not have the very sharp upturn at break, which is observed from strain-induced crystallization in natural rubber under quasistatic loading. Strain-induced crystallization appeared to be suppressed at high rates of loading. In fact, the highest dynamic tensile strength for the 25- and 50-phr carbon black-filled natural rubbers was smaller than those under quasistatic loading, while the highest dynamic tensile strength of the 75-phr carbon black-filled NR was greater than that in the static test. This indicated that high amounts of carbon black fillers will impede strain-induced crystallization in natural rubber.


2008 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 650-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crittenden J. Ohlemacher ◽  
Gary R. Hamed

Abstract Black-filled natural rubber, with an inefficient sulfur cure, was aged at 90 °C and 110 °C under nitrogen, with and without applied strain. Samples aged under strain became “double networks” and retained a residual extension ratio. The crosslink density of samples passed through a maximum with increasing severity of aging. Presumably this arises because the thermally labile, polysulfidic crosslinks break, and new crosslinks of lower rank form, resulting in increased crosslink density; but, when aged at 110 °C, this is offset by chain scission and other main-chain modifications. For double networks, it is proposed that a second network, which tends to keep samples extended, is formed at the expense of crosslinks in the original, first network. Unaged and single network samples were isotropic in tensile behavior and only slightly anisotropic in swelling behavior. For double networks, swelling and tensile properties were anisotropic, and there was some evidence that parallel specimens have increased ability to strain-crystallize. The observed anisotropies in double networks are proposed to arise from the chain orientation that persisted after double network formation.


1995 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Santangelo ◽  
C. M. Roland

Abstract When measured parallel to the curing deformation, double networks of natural rubber have a higher modulus than single networks of equal crosslink density. The difference is greater at higher strains. Despite the higher modulus, the mechanical fatigue lifetimes of double networks were found to be as much as a factor of ten higher than for conventionally crosslinked NR. The double network's tensile strength, on the other hand, was slightly lower. In contrast to these results, the modulus and tensile strength in the direction transverse to the curing strain are minimally affected by the presence of a composite network.


1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Roland ◽  
P. G. Santangelo ◽  
P. H. Mott

Abstract Double network elastomers are formed by twice-curing rubber, the second time while the material is deformed. When measured parallel to the curing deformation, the equilibrium modulus of a double network exceeds that of an isotropic elastomer of equal crosslink density. This difference increases with increasing strain. Despite the higher modulus, the mechanical fatigue lifetimes of double networks of natural rubber were found to be as much as a factor of ten higher than for the conventionally crosslinked rubber. The double network’s tensile strength, on the other hand, was slightly lower. Such results suggest that the conventional compromise between modulus and failure properties can be circumvented using double network rubbers. Their utilization can yield elastomers of better mechanical properties.


2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 1219-1223 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. González ◽  
J. L. Valentín ◽  
A. Fernández-Torres ◽  
A. Rodríguez ◽  
A. Marcos-Fernández

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document