Aramid nanofiber reinforced nitrile rubber assisted by cellulose nanocrystals

Effect of Cross-Linking Density on Non-Linear Viscoelasticity of Vulcanized SBR: A MD Simulation and Experimental Study

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in changes in dynamic mechanical properties of mixed rubber during dynamic shear, yet the influence of vulcanized characteristics on the dynamic shear behavior of vulcanized rubber, particularly the effect of cross-linking density, has received little attention. This study focuses on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and aims to investigate the impact of different cross-linking densities (D_c) on dynamic shear behavior using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The results reveal a remarkable Payne effect, where the storage modulus experiences a significant drop when the strain amplitude (γ₀) exceeds 0.1, which can be attributed to the fracture of the polymer bond and the decrease in the molecular chain's flexibility. The influence of various D_c values mainly resides at the level of molecular aggregation in the system, where higher D_c values impede molecular chain motion and lead to an increase in the storage modulus of SBR. The MD simulation results are verified through comparisons with existing literature.

A Review of Rubber Biocomposites Reinforced with Lignocellulosic Fillers

Lignocellulosic fillers have attracted considerable attention over the years as a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based fillers (carbon black) in rubber composites due to their renewability, biodegradability, availability, high mechanical properties, low density and low cost. Based on the literature available, a comprehensive review is presented here of rubber biocomposites reinforced with plant-based fillers. The study is divided into different sections depending on the matrix (natural or synthetic rubber) and the type of lignocellulosic fillers (natural fiber, microcrystalline cellulose, lignin and nanocellulose). This review focuses on the curing characteristics, mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical properties of the resulting rubber biocomposites. In addition, the effect of hybrid filler systems, lignocellulosic filler surface modification and modification of the rubber matrix on the properties of these rubber biocomposites are presented and compared. A conclusion is finally presented with some openings for future works.