Mechanical, Thermophysical, and Diffusion Properties of TiO2-Filled Chlorobutyl Rubber Composites

The mechanical and thermophysical properties of TiO2-filled chlorobutyl rubber composites were investigated. These materials exhibited enhanced mechanical properties such as increased modulus, tensile strength, and hardness. The morphology of filler dispersion in the matrix was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the effect of TiO2 content on the molecular transport of solvents was examined by means of degree of swelling, volume fraction of rubber, penetration rate of solvent, mean diffusion coefficient, etc. A periodic method was used to estimate the thermophysical behavior of samples. It was shown that the thermal conductivity and diffusivity of composites increase with increasing of TiO2 filler content. Finally, the utilization of the material as effective chemical protective clothing against volatile organic chemicals was analyzed. POLYM. COMPOS., 32:1681-1687, 2011. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers