Fillers interface

Utracki and Fisa (1982) and Metzner (1985) review the rheology of (asymmetric) fibre-and flake-filled plastics, noting the importance of the filler-polymer interface, filler-filler interactions, filler concentration and filler-particle properties in determining rheological phenomena such as yield-stress, normal-stress and viscosity profiles (thixotropy and rheo-pexy, dilatancy and shear thinning). 

It is important to note that reinforced plastics remain a combination of materials differing in form or composition on a macro scale. The main constituents (resin, reinforcement, and filler) retain their identities and do not dissolve or merge into each other rather, they act in concert. These components can be physically identified and exhibit an interface between each other. 

An intensity factor—the specific activity of the filler-polymer interface causing chemical and/or physical bonding. 

A filler cannot be used to best advantage in a polymer unless there is good adhesion between them. In particular the filler particle-polymer interface will not be stress-bearing and therefore provides a point of mechanical weakness. 

Some rubber base adhesives need vulcanization to produce adequate ultimate strength. The adhesion is mainly due to chemical interactions at the interface. Other rubber base adhesives (contact adhesives) do not necessarily need vulcanization but rather adequate formulation to produce adhesive joints, mainly with porous substrates. In this case, the mechanism of diffusion dominates their adhesion properties. Consequently, the properties of the elastomeric adhesives depend on both the variety of intrinsic properties in natural and synthetic elastomers, and the modifying additives which may be incorporated into the adhesive formulation (tackifiers, reinforcing resins, fillers, plasticizers, curing agents, etc.). 

The dry adhesive films on the two substrates to be joined must be placed in contact to develop adequate autoadhesion, i.e. diffusion of polymer rubber chains must be achieved across the interface between the two films to produce intimate adhesion at molecular level. The application of pressure and/or temperature for a given time allows the desired level of intimate contact (coalescence) between the two adhesive film surfaces. Obviously, the rheological and mechanical properties of the rubber adhesives will determine the degree of intimacy at the interface. These properties can be optimized by selecting the adequate rubber grade, the nature and amount of tackifier and the amount of filler, among other factors. 

An important consideration is the effect of filler and its degree of interaction with the polymer matrix. Under strain, a weak bond at the binder-filler interface often leads to dewetting of the binder from the solid particles to formation of voids and deterioration of mechanical properties. The primary objective is, therefore, to enhance the particle-matrix interaction or increase debond fracture energy. A most desirable property is a narrow gap between the maximum (e ) and ultimate elongation ch) on the stress-strain curve. The ratio, e , eh, may be considered as the interface efficiency, a ratio of unity implying perfect efficiency at the interfacial Junction. 

In other words, the critical fiber length is a function of its strength, diameter and the shear strength at the filler-matrix interface. 

These parameters refer separately to the filler and the matrix. However, besides these parameters, there is another factor, which is of cardinal importance for the characterization of a composite system, which is the effectiveness of the bond between matrix and filler in transferring stresses across the interface. 

There is currently considerable interest in processing polymeric composite materials filled with nanosized rigid particles. This class of material called "nanocomposites" describes two-phase materials where one of the phases has at least one dimension lower than 100 nm [13]. Because the building blocks of nanocomposites are of nanoscale, they have an enormous interface area. Due to this there are a lot of interfaces between two intermixed phases compared to usual microcomposites. In addition to this, the mean distance between the particles is also smaller due to their small size which favors filler-filler interactions [14]. Nanomaterials not only include metallic, bimetallic and metal oxide but also polymeric nanoparticles as well as advanced materials like carbon nanotubes and dendrimers. However considering environmetal hazards, research has been focused on various means which form the basis of green nanotechnology. 

The filler-matrix interface The interface between filler and matrix is also crucial in terms of composite performance. The interface serves to transfer externally applied loads to the reinforcement via shear stresses over the interface. Controlling the strength of the interface is very important. Clearly, good bonding is essential if stresses are to be adequately transferred to the reinforcement and hence provide a true reinforcing function [1]. 

Galuska, A.A., Poulter, R.R., and McElrath, K.O., Eorce modulation AEM of elastomer blends Morphology, fillers and cross-hnking. Surf. Interface Anal., 25, 418, 1997. 

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