Carbon Nanotubes Networking in Styrene-Butadiene Rubber: A Dynamic Mechanical and Dielectric Spectroscopy Study

The study of the reinforcement network in elastomer compounds is one of the most relevant issues for the application of these materials because their properties are strongly dependent on the obtained morphology. To this regard, the viscoelastic and dielectric behavior of vulcanized styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) reinforced with different amounts of carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been investigated and compared with the vulcanized unfilled SBR and the vulcanized SBR samples reinforced with a conventional amount of carbon black (40 phr). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements have been carried out to highlight possible differences of the glass transition temperatures for all the reinforced compounds. The percolation threshold value of the nanocomposite samples has been estimated by dielectric analysis. Finally, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements have been performed in tensile mode in the temperature range of -60 to 80 degrees C to obtain both E ' and E ''. From these experimental data, the master curve for each sample has been estimated by using the time-temperature superposition principle in combination with the vertical shift approach. From the analysis of this latter, the activation energy, associated to the thermal movement of the reinforcement network, has been calculated to better elucidate the reinforcement mechanism in the nanocomposites.

Automated summary

The study focuses on the reinforcement network in elastomer compounds, which is highly relevant for their practical application due to the significant influence of morphology on material properties. In this research, the viscoelastic and dielectric behavior of vulcanized SBR reinforced with CNTs of varying amounts were investigated and compared with unfilled SBR and SBR reinforced with conventional carbon black. DSC measurements highlighted potential differences in glass transition temperatures, dielectric analysis estimated the percolation threshold value, and DMA measurements were performed to obtain E' and E'' in a wide temperature range. The analysis of the activation energy shed light on the reinforcement mechanism in the nanocomposites.