TY - CHAP A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Frasca, Daniele A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Schartel, Bernhard ED - Yaragalla, S. ED - Kumar Mishra, R. ED - Thomas, S. ED - Kalarikkal, N. ED - Maria, H. J. T1 - Multilayer Graphene/Elastomer Nanocomposites N2 - Elastomers are usually reinforced by large amount of fillers like carbon black (CB) or silica in order to improve various mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus, hardness, tear resistance, abrasion resistance, and gas barrier properties. In recent years, such improvements were also obtained by using nanoparticles at significantly lower filler loadings. Graphene is a twodimensional (2D) sheet of a thickness in the atomic scale, composed of a honeycomb structure of sp2 carbon atoms. Besides significant mechanical reinforcement, graphene harbors the potential to be used as a multifunctional filler, as it can also increase the conductivity and weathering stability of elastomer matrices. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and oxidative agents can lead to the degradation of elastomers due to a multistep photooxidative process, including the formation of radicals. Carbon-based fillers have an influence on these reactions, as they can absorb UV radiation and act as radical scavengers. This chapter summarizes the results of our larger project on multilayer graphene (MLG)/elastomer nanocomposites, previously published, which present a comprehensive case study of MLG as a multifunctional nanofiller in elastomer/graphene nanocomposites. Different elastomeric matrices are compared in order to demonstrate the outstanding impact of MLG as a general benefit. The dependency of this effect on concentration is discussed in detail. Taking into account the key role of dispersion, different mixing procedures are compared, evaluating a facile implementation of graphene nanocomposites into conventional rubber processing. Finally, the most probable commercial uses of MLG nanofillers in combination with conventional CB are studied. The nanocomposites were prepared in the kg scale in order to obtain enough specimens to investigate various properties of the uncured and vulcanized rubbers at the highest quality level, including rheology, curing, morphology, several mechanical properties, abrasion, conductivity, gas permeation, burning behavior, and weathering stability. The structure property relationships are asserted and questioned, for example, by investigating the radical scavenging ability or aspect ratio of the MLG. This chapter illustrates the state of the art of graphene/rubber nanocomposites targeted for commercial mass applications. KW - Nanocomposite KW - Graphene KW - Rubber KW - Reinforcement KW - Durability KW - Masterbatch KW - Gas Barrier Properties KW - Conductivity PY - 2019 SN - 978-0-12-817342-8 SP - 139 EP - 200 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-47408 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Strommer, Bettina A1 - Battig, Alexander A1 - Frasca, Daniele A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Huth, Christian A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Multifunctional Property Improvements by Combining Graphene and Conventional Fillers in Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene Rubber Composites N2 - The incorporation of nanoparticles like multilayer graphene (MLG) into elastomeric composites boosts their technical performance, such as their mechanical behavior and electrical conductivity. Common filler types (carbon black (CB) and aluminum trihydroxide (ATH)) generally fulfill single, specific purposes and are often used in high loadings. CB typically reinforces rubber mechanically, while ATH increases flame retardancy. Small amounts of MLG reduce these high filler contents and maintain the multifunctional characteristics of rubber composites. In chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM) + ATH, an intrinsically flame-retardant rubber was designed to achieve the highest standards such as maximum average of heat emission (MARHE) <90 kW m−2, 3 phrMLG was substituted for 15 phr CB and/or 3 phr ATH via an industrially applicable processing approach. Replacing either CB or ATH resulted in a property profile that was multifunctionally improved in terms of features such as mechanical performance, reduced sorption, and flame retardance. MLG nanocomposites are reported to show promise as an industrially utilizable route to obtain multifunctional high-performance rubbers. KW - Nanocomposites KW - Rubber KW - Multilayer graphene KW - Flame retardancy KW - Synergy KW - Nanoparticles KW - Elastomers PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsapm.1c01469 SN - 2637-6105 VL - 4 IS - 2 SP - 1021 EP - 1034 PB - ACS Publ. CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-54330 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Strommer, Bettina A1 - Battig, Alexander A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Agudo Jacome, Leonardo A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Böhning, Martin T1 - Shape, orientation, interaction, or dispersion: valorization of the influence factors in natural rubber nanocomposites N2 - The addition of nanoparticles as reinforcing fillers in elastomers yields nanocomposites with unique property profiles, which opens the door for various new application fields. Major factors influencing the performance of nanocomposites are studied by varying the type and shape of nanoparticles and their dispersion in the natural rubber matrix. The industrial applicability of these nanocomposites is put into focus using two types of graphene and a nanoscale carbon black, all commercially available, and scalable processing techniques in the form of a highly filled masterbatch production via latex premixing by simple stirring or ultrasonically assisted dispersing with surfactant followed by conventional two-roll milling and hot pressing. Different processing and measurement methods reveal the potential for possible improvements: rheology, curing behavior, static and dynamic mechanical properties, swelling, and fire behavior. The aspect ratio of the nanoparticles and their interaction with the surrounding matrix prove to be crucial for the development of superior nanocomposites. An enhanced dispersing method enables the utilization of the improvement potential at low filler loadings (3 parts per hundred of rubber [phr]) and yields multifunctional rubber nanocomposites: two-dimensional layered particles (graphene) result in anisotropic material behavior with strong reinforcement in the in-plane direction (157% increase in the Young's modulus). The peak heat release rate in the cone calorimeter is reduced by 55% by incorporating 3 phr of few-layer graphene via an optimized dispersing process. KW - Graphene KW - Natural rubber KW - Nanocomposites KW - Anisotropy KW - Fire behavior PY - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.5254/rct.23.77961 SN - 0035-9475 SN - 1943-4804 VL - 96 IS - 1 SP - 40 EP - 58 PB - Allen Press CY - Lawrence (KA), USA AN - OPUS4-57568 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Strommer, Bettina A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Böhning, Martin T1 - The quantification of anisotropy in graphene/natural rubber nanocomposites: Evaluation of the aspect ratio, concentration, and crosslinking N2 - In the processing of nanocomposites, high shear stresses at elevated tempera-tures orient two-dimensional nanoparticles like graphene. This orientationleads to anisotropic mechanical, thermal or barrier properties of the nanocom-posite. This anisotropy is addressed in this study by comparing graphene (few-layer graphene, FLG) with a nanoscaled carbon black (nCB) at a filler contentof 3 phr, by varying the vulcanization, and by comparing different FLG con-tents. Transmission electron microscopy gives insight into the qualitative ori-entation in the nanocomposite with FLG or nCB. The storage moduli paralleland normal to the orientation reveal the direction dependency of reinforce-ment through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Dimensional swellingmeasurements show a restriction of the expansion parallel to the FLG orienta-tion, and an increased expansion normal to the orientation. The vulcanizationsystem and crosslinking determine the respective level of property values, andhigher crosslinking densities increase the anisotropy in DMA resulting invalues of up to 2.9 for the quantified anisotropy factor. With increasing FLGcontent, the anisotropy increases. A comparison of the results reveals swellingmeasurements as the most suitable method for the determination of anisot-ropy. Compared to recent literature, the presented processing induces higheranisotropy, leading to higher reinforcing effects in the direction of orientation KW - Natural rubber KW - Graphene KW - Nanocomposite KW - Mechanical properties KW - Swelling PY - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-571522 SN - 1097-4628 VL - 140 IS - 16 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Wiley online library CY - Hoboken, New Jersey (USA) AN - OPUS4-57152 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Strommer, Bettina A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Böhning, Martin T1 - Networking Skills: The Effect of Graphene on the Crosslinking of Natural Rubber Nanocomposites with Sulfur and Peroxide Systems N2 - Tailored crosslinking in elastomers is crucial for their technical applications. The incorporation of nanoparticles with high surface-to-volume ratios not only leads to the formation of physical networks and influences the ultimate performance of nanocomposites, but it also affects the chemical crosslinking reactions. The influence of few-layer graphene (FLG) on the crosslinking behavior of natural rubber is investigated. Four different curing systems, two sulfur-based with different accelerator-to-sulfur ratios, and two peroxide-based with different peroxide concentrations, are combined with different FLG contents. Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), vulcametry (MDR) and swelling measurements, the results show an accelerating effect of FLG on the kinetics of the sulfur-based curing systems, with an exothermic reaction peak in DSC shifted to lower temperatures and lower scorch and curing times in the MDR. While a higher accelerator-to-sulfur ratio in combination with FLG leads to reduced crosslinking densities, the peroxide crosslinkers are hardly affected by the presence of FLG. The good agreement of crosslink densities obtained from the swelling behavior confirms the suitability of vulcameter measurements for monitoring the complex vulcanization process of such nanocomposite systems in a simple and efficient way. The reinforcing effect of FLG shows the highest relative improvements in weakly crosslinked nanocomposites. KW - Nanocomposite KW - Elastomers KW - Graphene KW - Crosslinking KW - Network KW - Rubber KW - Vulcanization PY - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-560409 VL - 14 IS - 20 PB - MDPI AN - OPUS4-56040 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -