Short fibers reinforcing elastomers

O Connor, J.E. (1977) Short-fiber-reinforced elastomer composites. Rubber Chem. Technol., 50, 945-958. 

Extensive reviews on short fibers-reinforced elastomers have been published by Goettler and Shen, ° and more recently by Rajeev. Table 7.11 is a list of selected published works on natural fiber-filled rubber composites, sorted by rubber type. Only vulcanizable rubbers were considered in preparing the table thermoplastic rubber and rubber-plastics blends were omitted. As can be seen most grades of conventional elastomers have been considered with quite a large variety of natural fibers. Natural Rubber, SBR, and EPDM compounds have received much attention, as expected with respect to their industrial importance. A bonding system is us in most cases, with resin types (i.e. resorcinol-formaldehyde, resorcinol-hexamethylenetetramine, sil-ica-resorcinol-hexamethylenetetramine) the most frequent ones. 

L.A. Goettler, K.S. Shen. Short fibers reinforced elastomers. Rubb. Chem. Technol., 56, 619-638,1983. 

Various specialty elastomers have also been used as matrices for short fiber reinforcement. Some of the examples are described below ... 

The principles of compounding were reviewed earlier in this text and cover the fundamental characteristics of polymers, filler systems, and the basics of vulcanization in the context of compound development for tire applications. A compound formulation consists of four basic components the polymer network, the filler or particulate reinforcing system, the stabilizer system, and the vulcanization system (Figure 14.21). In addition a series of secondary materials such as resins, processing oils, and short fiber reinforcements may be included in a formula (Duddey, 2004 Rodgers and Waddell, 2004 Long, 1985). Elastomers used in radial tires are basically of four types ... 

Reinforced RIM (RRIM) elastomers are used. By the addition of reinforcing fillers such as milled glass fiber, glass flake, or mineral fillers in the polyurethane or short to long glass fiber in preforms, fabric, or mat forms placed in the mold cavity, the properties of the material can be altered to meet high performance requirements of the part (Chapter 15). The reinforced elastomers are used to increase flexural modulus, improve thermal properties, and improve dimensional stability.267... 

Organic matrices are divided into thermosets and thermoplastics. The main thermoset matrices are polyesters, epoxies, phenolics, and polyimides, polyesters being the most widely used in commercial applications (3,4). Epoxy and polyimide resins are applied in advanced composites for structural aerospace applications (1,5). Thermoplastics Uke polyolefins, nylons, and polyesters are reinforced with short fibers (3). They are known as traditional polymeric matrices. Advanced thermoplastic polymeric matrices like poly(ether ketones) and polysulfones have a higher service temperature than the traditional ones (1,6). They have service properties similar to those of thermoset matrices and are reinforced with continuous fibers. Of course, composites reinforced with discontinuous fibers have weaker mechanical properties than those with continuous fibers. Elastomers are generally reinforced by the addition of carbon black or silica. Although they are reinforced polymers, traditionally they are studied separately due to their singular properties (see Chap. 3). 

Later advances include short, glass-fiber reinforced, high-modulus (flexural modulus greater than 300,000 psi, i.e., 2070 MPa) polyurethane elastomers produced by the reinforced RIM process. These reinforced high-modulus polyurethane elastomers are considered for automotive door panels, trunk lids, and fender applications. 

Reinforcements are used to enhance the mechanical properties of a plastic or elastomer. Finely divided silica, carbon black, talc, mica, and calcium carbonate, as well as short fibers of a variety of materials, can be incorporated as particulate fillers. Incorporating large amounts of particulate filler during the making of plastics such as polypropylene and polyethylene can increase their stiffness. The effect is less dramatic when temperature is below the polymer s Tg. 

In reinforced plastics various inorganic materials are dispersed in the polymer. Carbon black reinforced elastomers have already been considered see Section 9.16.2. For fiber composites, two subtypes are important, the short fiber-containing materials, which are thermoplastic, and the continuous filament types, which cannot flow. While short fibers can be melt blended with thermoplastics, they are often embedded in monomeric mixes, followed by polymerization in situ. Continuous fibers are always processed via monomeric mixes which can flow over the beds of fibers. Of course, these monomeric mixes may have polymers or prepolymers dissolved in them, raising the viscosity, and reducing shrinkage on polymerization. An example of the continuous filament type is a tape composite, familiar as the strapping tape used for packaging. 

Tjong S C, Xu S A, and Mai Y W (2003) Impact fracture toughness of short glass fiber-reinforced polyamide 6,6 hybrid composites containing elastomer particles using essential work of fracture concept, Mater Sci Eng A 347 338-345. 

Filling an elastomer with short fibers essentially involves combining the viscoelastic behavior of a rubber matrix with the strength and stiffness of the fiber, in order to obtain useful engineering materials. Reinforcing elastomers... 

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