• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2020

Herein, we investigated the thermal conductivity and thermal stability of natural rubber composite systems containing hybrid fillers of boron nitride (BN) and aluminum nitride (AlN). In the hybrid system, the bimodal distribution of polygonal AlN and planar BN particles provided excellent filler-packing efficiency and desired energy path for phonon transfer, resulting in high thermal conductivity of 1.29 W/mK, which could not be achieved by single filler composites. Further, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was compounded with a commonly used naphthenic oil, which substantially increased thermal conductivity to 3.51 W/mK with an excellent thermal stability due to facilitated energy transfer across the filler-filler interface. The resulting PEG-incorporated hybrid composite showed a high thermal degradation temperature (T₂) of 290℃, a low coefficient of thermal expansion of 26.4 ppm/℃, and a low thermal distortion parameter of 7.53 m/K, which is well over the naphthenic oil compound. Finally, using the Fourier's law of conduction, we suggested a modeling methodology to evaluate the cooling performance in thermal management system.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 1966

Based upon the results of the previous work, the experiments are concentrated on the improvement of the durability of rubber coated fabrics as a rain garment material. To obtain a much lighter and durable coated fabric, several kinds of light weight cotton prints having almost equal density in warp and fillingwise were chosen. Rubber coating on these prints was made by topping and spreading process using rubber compound of various viscosity, and the physical properties of final product were analysed and interpreted in terms of adhesion and durability. The results are as follows. 1. Any noticeable difference between two coating processes was not found in terms of physical properties. 2. Base fabrics should be dipped once into a dilute rubber compound before coating operation in order to obtain a uniform adhesion and physical properties, and the optimum range of the viscosity of dipping paste are from 100 poise to 200 poise. 3. Generally, the tearing strength of the coated fabrics is inversely proportional to the adhesion. 4. It was assumed that the increase of the water proofness after water immersion on the finished material which have dense base fabric is chiefly due to the swelling of the cellulosic fiber.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.164-171
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• 2006

Stress softening behaviors of SBR vulcanizates reinforced with silica or carbon black were studied. Two types of SBR with different 1,2-unit contents of 18 and 60 wt% were used and three filler systems of carbon black and silica with/without silane coupling agent were employed. Stress softening behaviors of the SBR vulcanizates were varied with the SBR types as well as the filler systems. The silica-filled rubber specimens had higher residual strains than the carbon black-filled ones. The residual strains of silica-filled vulcanizates were remarkably reduced by adding a silane coupling agent. The maximum loads at 50% maximum stretch of the carbon black-filled vulcanizates were lower than those of the silica-filled ones. On the contrary, the maximum loads at 200% maximum stretch of the carbon black-filled vulcanizates were higher than those of the silica-filled ones. The maximum loads of the specimens with the 1,2-unit content of 60 wt% are higher than those with the 1,2-unit content of 18 wt% irrespective of the filler systems.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.172-181
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• 2006

Flame retardant synergism of phyllite was studied in ABS resins containing brominated flame retardant(tetrabromobisphenol A(TBBA) or brominated epoxy oligomer(BEO)) and antimony trioxide($Sb_2O_3)$. Talc was used for the comparison purpose. ABS compounds were manufactured by a twin-screw co-rotating extruder and subsequently injection molded into several specimen for mechanical and thermal properties. Flame retardancy of ABS compounds measured by UL 94 vertical test with 1.6 mm thick bar specimen was enhanced by the replacement of antimony trioxide into phyllite or talc in the range of 12.5%(0.5 wt%) to 37.5%(1.5 wt%). Phyllite showed better synergistic effect comparing with talc especially for BEO. Only phyllite enhanced the flowability of ABS compounds. Notched Izod impact strength decreased with the proportion of phyllite or talc content. Phyllite could replace the antimony trioxide up to the content of 25%(1 wt%) to give better flame retardancy and flowability without darkening problem.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 2007

Thermal Characterization of an EPDM/IIR rubber blend was performed using TG/DTG analysis. While TGA thermograms of a virgin EPDM and IIR showed their own characteristic thermal decomposition curves, that of an EPDM/IIR blend sample showed a characteristic curve, exhibiting both decomposition characteristics of EPDM and IIR. This finding was more clarified from DTG analysis obtained by differentiation of TGA thermograms, being exhibited as two distinct shifted-peaks. Degrees of peak-shift (${\Delta}T$) compared to their original positions were $+25\;^{\circ}C$ for IIR and $-15\;^{\circ}C$ for EPDM, respectively. From these facts, thermal stability of EPDM is considered comparatively better than IIR, and moreover, it can be an evidence for the characteristics of a partial compatibility between EPDM and IIR. It is noteworthy that, if we prepare in advance a calibration curve for the composition about EPDM/IIR blend, it may be possible to analyze quantitatively an EPDM/IIR blend, using comparatively simple TGA experiments as in the present work.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2007

In this study, SBR (Styrene-butadiene rubber: solid content: 25 wt%) nanocomposites reinforced with carbon/organoclay(C18-MMT) were manufactured by a latex method. The SBR nanocomposites was made with the dual phase fillers. The mixing ratios, i.e. carbon black/C18-MMT, were 50/0, 49/1, 48/2, 47/3, 45/5, 44/6, 40/10. Total filler content of compounds was restricted to 50 phr. Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of SBR nanocomposites with carbon black and C18-MMT were evaluated. The SBR nanocomposites containing 49/1 ratio of carbon black/C18-MMT showed good dispersity and excellent values of ODR torque, tensile strength, modulus and tear energy. It was found that the improvement of the mechanical properties was mainly due to the reinforcing effect, i.e., the improvement of dispersion of silicates in the rubber matrix.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.282-291
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• 2012

Control of shape/volume, mechanical, optical, electrical, and chemical switching of materials by external stimuli such as light, temperature, pH, electric field, and pressure has attracted great attention. Among these materials, photo-responsive materials containing photochromic compounds such as azobenzene, spiropyran, and cinnamic acid groups have been the subject of intense interest in recent years. In this review, we describe the recent progress in the area of azobenzene containing polymer materials that can convert light energy into mechanical energy directly. Especially we focus our attention on light-driven actuators such as artificial muscle, motor, and valve. We summarize the photomechanical effects in liquid crystal elastomer, amorphous polymer, monolayer, and supramolecules containing azobenzene, respectively.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2012

There exist many merits in designing products and setting operational condition when computer aided engineering (CAE) is adopted in injection molding process. CAE also gives increasing efficient of molding, reducing developing time of product, and maintaining high quality products. Specially, it suggests design guidelines for new products and reducing wasting time to get steady state. Two and three dimensional computer simulations are available in injection molding and those results are somewhat different. However there are no guidelines for 2D and 3D computer simulations in using CAE in injection molding even though it is widely used in plastic industry. In this study, two and three dimensional computation results were compared for various part thickness, part shape, and number of finite element. Subsequently computational results were compared with experimental data such as pressure and temperature. The guidelines in two and three dimensional CAE analysis have been suggested through this study.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2012

Injection molding is one of the widely used polymer processing operations. It is being used for not only conventional injection molding but gas injection molding, water injection molding, and injection compression molding. Injection compression molding involves injection and compression operation, and it gives uniform physical property and high dimensional quality of product. In this study, injection compression characteristics for various product shapes have been investigated by computer simulation. Product containing side wall showed not much effective in injection compression molding since wall thickness direction was perpendicular to the compression direction. Uniform and low shrinkage was observed in injection compression molding comparing conventional injection molding. Subsequently injection compression molding can be used for molding precise product. Optimal injection compression molding condition was obtained using design of experiment for plastic lens and the results were compared with conventional injection molding.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.310-317
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• 2012

A jute fiber surface was modified with argon gas in a cylinder type RF plasma generator to enhance the interfacial bond strength and to optimize the plasma treatment condition. The plasma power, gas pressure, and treat time were varied to figure out any effect of those parameters on the morphology and mechanical strength of jute fibers, and the interfacial bond strength for a model composite with polypropylene resin. As the severity of plasma treatment was increased, the surface of jute fibers became rougher. Gas pressure was less effective in roughening of the surface compared with those of treat time and plasma power. Approximately 25% drop in tensile strength of jute fibers was observed for the parameters of treat time and plasma power, while little deterioration was found for gas pressure, with increasing the severity. Based on the interfacial shear strength (IFSS), the optimum plasma treatment condition was determined to be treat time of 30 s, plasma power of 40 W, and gas pressure of 30 mTorr.