Mechanical, thermo‐mechanical, thermal, and swelling properties of EPDM‐organically modified mesoporous silica nanocomposites

Abstract

Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer nanocomposites has been developed using organically modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles by solution blending method. Hydrophilic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MCM-41) of 100 nm in sizes were synthesized via a template-directed method, functionalized with trimethylchlorosilane (TMS) to produce hydrophobic silica (OS). The X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis suggest that OS are homogeneously dispersed in the EPDM matrix and can maintain its pore structure effectively in the nanocomposites. The EPDM/OS nanocomposite exhibits a significant improvement in mechanical and thermal properties with respect to neat EPDM. A significant increase in tensile strength (TS) approximately 200% was observed at very low wt % of organosilica content in the nanocomposite. Dynamic mechanical analysis also exhibits the improvement in storage modulus for nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis shows a thermal stability enhancement by approximately 258C of EPDM nanocomposites containing 3 wt% OS when 25% weight loss was selected as point of comparison. The solvent uptakes in nanocomposites were comparable with the porous sites and free volume in EPDM matrix on OS incorporation. POLYM. COMPOS., 00:000-000, 2015.

Reactive Compatibilization of Impact Copolymer Polypropylene and Organically Modified Mesoporous Silica to Prepare Composites Possessing Enhanced Mechanical Properties

“…The possible reason for this observation was the incorporation of organic moieties within the mesopores of silica. Similar observations have been reported in the literature. − …”

Effects of difunctional reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane on the properties of EPDM

“…It is showed that, compared with EPDM, the tensile strength of DV‐DDSQ and DH‐DDSQ modified EPDM increased by 35.8% and 55.3% respectively, the tear strength was increased by 6.4% and 5% respectively, meanwhile the elongation at break were somewhat unchanged. Compared with the mechanical properties of EPDM previously reported, 1,12,13,29 the strength and elasticity of brPOSS /EPDM remained at a higher level. Generally speaking, strength and elasticity as important parameters to evaluate the mechanical properties of elastomer, the elongation at break normally decrease with the rise in the strength, therefore it is difficult to ensure the both increase of elasticity and strength simultaneously 16,36,37 .…”

“…Simultaneously, the presence of glass microspheres increased the flammability of the resulting formulation. Acharya H et al 12 prepared hydrophobic silica (OS)/EPDM, the results showed that the tensile strength of materials which incorporated of OS nanoparticle with 3 and 10 wt% is 3.95 MPa and 1.67 MPa respectively, and the elongation at break is 229% and 174% respectively, and the carbon residual rate at 600°C is 2.7% and 7.25%. Haijuan Kong et al 13 grafted silica onto aramid pulp (AP) surface, and SiO 2 ‐AP/EPDM were then prepared.…”

Effects of silane‐modified nano‐CaCO3 particles on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites

“…[1,2] The use of nanoparticles has attracted considerable attention among the scientists to overcome these issues. The most widely used nanoparticles in the literature are carbon nanotubes (CNTs), [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] silica, [11][12][13] clay, [14,15] graphene [16][17][18] and their hybrids. [19][20][21] However, the use of carbon-based nanoparticles is restricted in the aerospace industry due to various drawbacks such as their high cost and significant toxicity to the environment and human health.…”