Correlating synergistic reinforcement with chain motion in elastomer/nanocarbon hybrids composites

Abstract

The strategy of using hybrid fillers with different geometric shapes and aspect ratios has been established to be an efficient way to achieve high-performance polymer composites. While, in spite of the recently renowned advances in this field, the mechanism of synergistic behavior in the system is still unclear and equivocal. In this study, we systematically investigated the mechanism for the synergistic reinforcement in an elastomer reinforced by nanocarbon hybrids consisting of 2D reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and 1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The improved dispersion state of hybrid filler was attested by Raman, UV-Vis spectra and morphological observations. In addition to the phenomenological evidences, we substantiated a stronger confinement effect of hybrid network on chain dynamics, for the first time, with molecular concepts by dielectric relaxation analysis. The formation of a glassy interphase with orders of magnitude slower chain dynamics than that for bulk chains has been explicitly demonstrated in the hybrid system. Besides improved dispersion upon hybridization, it is believed the formation of a glassy interphase is another crucial factor in governing the synergistic reinforcement capability of hybrid composites. We envision this new finding provides significant insight into the mechanism of synergistic behavior in hybrid-filled polymer composites with molecular concepts.

Reinforcing styrene‐butadiene rubber composites by constructing multiple interaction between rubber and silica

“…To further investigate and quantify the synergistic effect of AMI and TESPT, the synergy was calculated by Equation as follows : …”

Morphology, structure, and segmental dynamics in polyazomethine/hybrid carbon nanofillers composites

“…Intensive investigations of the polymer/GNPs:CNTs nanocomposites have recently been carried out. As polymer matrices, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene/polypropylene mixture, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethane, polyimide, polylactic acid, epoxy resins,vinyl ester resin, synthetic rubbers, acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene‐copolymer, and block‐copolymers were used. The general idea of using hybrid GNP:CNTs nanofillers was to employ CNTs as spacers between the graphene sheets which not only increases the interlayer spacing, but also bridges the defects for electron transfer.…”

“…The general idea of using hybrid GNP:CNTs nanofillers was to employ CNTs as spacers between the graphene sheets which not only increases the interlayer spacing, but also bridges the defects for electron transfer. The advantages of the hybrid nanofillers for polymer nanocomposites were exhibited as enhanced nanoparticles dispersion in the polymer matrix their strong interfacial interaction with polymer chains and π‐π stacking interaction between hybrid nanofillers which results in formation of 3D conductive network . Essentially, polymer composites with hybrid nanofillers were reported to be effective materials for electromagnetic interference shielding .…”

“…In addition, an enhancing in mechanical properties, thermal and electrical conductivity, thermal stability and decreasing in the electrical percolation threshold of the hybrid nanocomposites as compared with the single filler nanocomposites were detected. Some authors reported on a synergetic effect when hybrid nanofillers were used for polymer nanocomposites fabrication. It was manifested as noticeable enhancing of functional properties of nanocomposites containing hybrid filler when compared to that of the nanocomposite with single filler.…”

“…For polymer composites, BDS bears information on the dipole relaxation dynamics of polymer chains which allows analyzing the effect of filler on chain relaxation dynamics. Surprisingly, we found only one publication on investigation of the polymer composite with hybrid carbon nanofillers with BDS technique.…”