TY - CONF A1 - Strommer, Bettina A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Networking Skills: The Effect of Graphene on Crosslinking N2 - 2D layered nanoparticles enable a distinct reduction of filler loadings in rubber compounds combined with a boost in performance due to their high surface to volume ratio. They often enable unique property profiles providing a great potential as effective fillers in rubber, especially by enhancing mechanical and barrier properties. As the best possible incorporation into the elastomer matrix is crucial for the efficiency of the nanofiller, dispersing and exfoliation of the nanoparticles without formation of agglomerates usually constitutes an outstanding challenge - especially when using conventional processing methods. Laboratory-scale approaches for highly dispersed nanocomposites sometimes solve this problem, but these are often too energy and time consuming and provide no scale up possibility for real applications. Therefore, a latex premixing process was established to produce highly filled masterbatches, enabling the processing with conventional techniques. The presence of nanoparticles greatly impacts the behavior of elastomeric compounds, besides affecting the properties of the final product also the processing is influenced (rheology, crosslinking). In this study, nanocomposites of natural rubber and multilayer graphene (MLG) were prepared via a latex masterbatch route. Different strategies for masterbatch premixing are compared (stirring vs. ultrasonication, coagulation vs. drying). Dispersion and exfoliation of MLG were determined by transmission electron microscopy. The reinforcing effect of MLG affects the viscosity while the dispersed graphene layers may also act as diffusion barrier/absorbent for the crosslinking agents. In contrast to that, MLG forms physical crosslinks in the final product. Swelling measurements and differential scanning calorimetry allow a differentiation between chemical and physical network links. Different technical properties of the nanocomposites were measured with respect to mechanical and application relevant behavior. T2 - PPS 37 CY - Online meeting DA - 12.04.2022 KW - Elastomers KW - Nanocomposites KW - Graphene KW - Nanoparticles KW - Latex KW - Natural rubber KW - Processing PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-54696 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Strommer, Bettina A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Schulze, Dietmar A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Natural Rubber Nanocomposites via Optimized Latex Premixing and Conventional Technical Processing N2 - Creation of highly functional materials and replacement of high amounts of conventional fillers are driving forces for the development of nanocomposites. Besides the type and properties of nanoparticles, their dispersing in the elastomeric matrix and the stability of this dispersion through all processing steps are the main factors for the resulting performance of the produced material. Therefore, a preparation chain via latex premixing to a highly filled masterbatch, followed by conventional technical processing is to be developed. Three types of carbon-based particles are characterized as such (SEM, Raman Spectroscopy, BET specific surface area) and in combination with natural rubber, as nanocomposites (TEM. Hardness, Abrasion resistance, Compression set, Cone calorimetry). All of the studied particles lead to an improvement in the investigated mechanical properties, the extent of reinforcement depends strongly on the specific surface of the particle interacting with the elastomeric matrix in combination with their shape. T2 - DKG Elastomer Symposium CY - Online meeting DA - 28.06.2021 KW - Processing KW - Elastomers KW - Nanocomposites KW - Graphene KW - Nanoparticles KW - Latex KW - Natural rubber PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53106 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 - 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 -