Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber by Block Copolymer-Based Porous Carbon Fibers

Abstract

Nanosized particles have a large surface area to facilitate interfacial contact and thus are promising fillers for polymers. However, poor dispersion of nanoparticles limits the reinforcement effect. Herein, by rationally tailoring the internal porous structures, specific surface area, and surface chemistry, we prepared porous carbon fiber (PCF) filler from poly(acrylonitrile-block-methyl methacrylate) (PAN-b-PMMA) block copolymers. PCF had a three-dimensional porous network and provided improved filler−matrix interactions. Owing to the enhanced filler−matrix interlocking, large interfacial contact area, and strong interfacial affinity induced by nitrogen and oxygen doping, PCF was uniformly dispersed in rubber. Uncured nature rubber composites containing 5 parts of PCF per hundred parts of rubber (phr) showed 4.3 times higher Young's modulus and twice the tensile strength at 300% strain compared to the neat rubber. PCF represents an effective reinforcing filler for polymers.

Block Copolymer Derived Porous Carbon Fiber: An Emerging Structural Functional Material

“…Developing porous carbon fibers can potentially add features to the carbon fiber composites. The carbon fibers’ porous network introduces surface interactions with the polymer matrices via mechanical, physical, or chemical interactions . Integrating porous polymer precursor and carbon fibers with other polymers and ceramics offers an opportunity to construct advanced materials with controllable thermal, mechanical, and other properties.…”

“…The carbon fibers' porous network introduces surface interactions with the polymer matrices via mechanical, physical, or chemical interactions. 128 Integrating porous polymer precursor and carbon fibers with other polymers and ceramics 129 offers an opportunity to construct advanced materials with controllable thermal, mechanical, and other properties. However, the structural control of porous carbon fibers requires further design and engineering.…”

Mesoporous carbons from self‐assembled polymers

“…Nevertheless, the BCP‐derived fibers in this study exhibited interconnected porous structures with a pore size distribution centered around 9.3 nm and BET surface area of 503 m 2 /g. Building on this work, these materials have been employed in a number of different applications, showing their great utility for capacitive deionization, 165 electrochemical applications, 166,167 dye removal for wastewater treatment, 168 and fillers to enhance mechanical properties of nanocomposites 169 …”

“…Building on this work, these materials have been employed in a number of different applications, showing their great utility for capacitive deionization, 165 electrochemical applications, 166,167 dye removal for wastewater treatment, 168 and fillers to enhance mechanical properties of nanocomposites. 169…”

Design of Vulcanization Intermediates with Low Steric Hindrance Contributing to Vulcanization Network Formation

“…Rubbers are widely used in everyday life, such as automobile tires, airplane tires, and seismic isolation materials. − Sulfur cross-linking, known as vulcanization, is an extraordinarily important process to endow rubbers with practical performances in the rubber industry. − For the vulcanization reaction, the widely agreed pathway is that stearic acid and zinc oxide (ZnO) produce vulcanization intermediates, further initiating the formation of vulcanization networks. , However, the steric hindrance of such vulcanization intermediates often hinders the formation of vulcanization networks, limiting the property enhancement of vulcanized rubbers. , How to further promote the formation of vulcanization network is still a challenge in the rubber industry.…”