Tibhawan Sajjayanukul. A study of factors affecting bulk properties of layered rubber vulcanisates . Master's Degree(Polymer Science and Technology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
A study of factors affecting bulk properties of layered rubber vulcanisates
Abstract:
Nowadays, some engineering rubber products such as forklift tyres are
composed of layers of different rubber compounds. Although measurements of
mechanical and dynamic properties of each rubber layer can be carried out using
standard methods, the assembly of two or more rubber compounds to form layered
structure might affect the bulk properties of the rubber products. For this reason,
this project aims to study the effect of layered structure on bulk properties of
rubber vulcanisates. The scope of the thesis is divided into two main parts; (1) the
investigation of primary factors controlling the rubber properties and (2) the
preparation and determination of bulk dynamic properties of the layered rubber
specimens.
In the first part, the effects of type and amount of carbon black and oil as well
as sulphur-crosslink system on processibility, mechanical properties and dynamic
properties of the rubbers were investigated. It has been found that the type and the
amount of carbon black strongly influence the dynamic mechanical properties. The
disruption and reformation of filler-filler network as well as the dilution effect are
believed to be responsible for the results. Unlike oil quantity, oil type shows no
significant difference in rubber properties. Crosslink density and crosslink structure
are also found to affect the rubber properties to some extent.
In the second part, the experimental began with the optimisation of cure time
of the layered specimens through the optimisation of the dynamic properties. The
layered specimens with different thickness ratios were then prepared and their bulk
dynamic properties were subsequently determined. The results reveal that the bulk
dynamic properties are strongly dependent on the layer thickness ratio. For the
specimens in which each layer has similar compressive modulus and dynamic
properties, the relationship between the bulk dynamic properties and the layer
thickness ratio obeys the mixture rule. However, for the specimens in which each
layer has a large difference in compressive modulus, some deviation towards the
layer with relatively large deformability (i.e., the layer with relatively low
compressive modulus) is observed.