This study investigated the influence of varying amounts of fumed silica filler on phenyl vinyl methyl polysiloxane (PVMQ) elastomer properties. Results demonstrate a significant impact of silica filler quantity on hardening, mechanical strength, relaxation, and damping properties of PVMQ elastomers. Notably, 15 phr fumed silica positively affects scorch time and optimum cure times. Increasing silica filler levels enhances mechanical properties, including hardness, Emod, and 50% modulus, by reinforcing physical and chemical cross-linking. The unique surface morphology of silica fillers enhances mechanical performance and energy absorption capacity, as evidenced by tan delta values. Multi-cycle compression tests confirm increased deformation resistance and energy absorption damping capacities with higher silica filler content. Temperature scanning stress relaxation analysis reveals notable effects on thermal relaxation properties. These findings underscore the crucial role of silica filler quantity in shaping the mechanical, damping, and thermal relaxation properties of PVMQ-based materials, suggesting avenues for performance optimization through surface morphology manipulation.
WangLLiuQJingD, et al.Biomechanical properties of nano-TiO(2) addition to a medical silicone elastomer: the effect of artificial ageing. J Dent2014; 42: 475–483.
2.
BrachaczekW. The modelling technology of protective silicone coatings in terms of selected physical properties: hydrophobicity. scrub resistance and water vapour diffusion. Prog Org Coating2014; 77: 859–867.
3.
VincentEnglertALCMAzizPisulaMW. Control of Mullins stress softening in silicone elastomer composites by rational design of fumed silica fillers. Compos Sci Technol2021; 214: 108955. DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2021.108955.
4.
FerryJD. Viscoelastic properties of polymers. 3rd ed.New York: Wiley, 1980.
5.
FloryPJ. Principle of polymer chemistry. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1953.
6.
TreloarLRG. The physics of rubber elasticity. 3rd ed.Oxford, UK: Clarendon, 1975.
7.
MarkJNgaiKGraessleyW, et al. Physical properties of polymers. 3rd ed.. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2004.
IsmailHIshakSHamidZAA. Comparison effect of mica and talc as filler in EPDM composites on curing, tensile and thermal properties. Prog Rubber Plast Recycl Technol2013; 29(2): 109–122. DOI: 10.1177/147776061302900204.
11.
DasguptaMKarSGuptaSD, et al.Effect of fly ash as filler in rubber – a comprehensive study of the vulcanisate properties of styrene-butadiene rubber compounds. Prog Rubber Plast Recycl Technol2013; 29(3): 151–168. DOI: 10.1177/147776061302900302.
12.
SailajaRArun KumarMDasT, et al.Optimising filler dosage to balance rolling resistance and grip properties tyre tread compound. Prog Rubber Plast Recycl Technol2023; 39(2): 169–180. DOI: 10.1177/14777606221147932.
13.
Al-GhamdiAAAl-HartomyOAAl-SolamyFR, et al.Effect of silica phase on certain properties of natural rubber based composites reinforced by carbon black/silica hybrid fillers. Prog Rubber Plast Recycl Technol2017; 33(4): 221–242. DOI: 10.1177/147776061703300402.
14.
BegumP. Use of antioxidant-modified precipitated silica in natural rubber. Prog Rubber Plast Recycl Technol2011; 27(4): 215–228. DOI: 10.1177/147776061102700403.
15.
LuginslandH-DFrohlichJWehmeierA. Influence of different silanes on the reinforcement of silica-filled rubber compounds. Rubber Chem Technol2002; 75(4): 563–579. DOI: 10.5254/1.3544984.
16.
StricherAMRinaldiRGBarrèsC, et al.How I met your elastomers: from network topology to mechanical behaviours of conventional silicone materials. RSC Adv2015; 5: 53713–53725. DOI: 10.1039/C5RA06965C.
17.
WolffSDonnetJ-B. Characterization of fillers in vulcanizates according to the einstein-guth-gold equation. Rubber Chem Technol1990; 63(1): 32–45. DOI: 10.5254/1.3538240.
18.
NunesRCRFonsecaJLCPereiraMR. Polymer–filler interactions and mechanical properties of a polyurethane elastomer. Polym Test2000; 19(1): 93–103. DOI: 10.1016/S0142-9418(98)00075-0.
19.
FröhlichJNiedermeierWLuginslandH-D. The effect of filler–filler and filler–elastomer interaction on rubber reinforcement. Compos Appl Sci Manuf2005; 36(4): 449–460. DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2004.10.004.
20.
NakataniAIChenWSchmidtRG, et al.Chain dimensions in polysilicate-filled poly(dimethyl siloxane). Polymer2001; 42(8): 3713–3722. DOI: 10.1016/S0032-3861(00)00771-0.
21.
NorbertV. Characterization of thermoplastic elastomers by means of temperature scanning stress relaxation measurements. Thermoplastic Elastomers2012; 1(1): 347–370. DOI: 10.5772/35976.
22.
PayneAR. The dynamic properties of carbon black-loaded natural rubber vulcanizates. Part I. J Appl Polym Sci1962; 6(19): 57–63.
LeeSPawlowskiHCoranAY. Method for estimating the chemical cross-link densities of cured natural-rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber. Rubber Chem Technol1994; 67: 854–864. DOI: 10.5254/1.3538716.
25.
PerssonAMMRAndreassenE. Cyclic compression testing of three elastomer types—a thermoplastic vulcanizate elastomer. a Liquid silicone rubber and two ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers. Polymers2022; 14: 1316. DOI: 10.3390/polym14071316.
26.
HayichelaehCReuvekampLAEMDierkesWK, et al.Enhancing the silanization reaction of the silica-silane system by different amines in model and practical silica-filled natural rubber compounds. Polymers2018; 10: 584. DOI: 10.3390/Polym10060584.
27.
Reuvekamp*LAEMTen BrınkeJWVan SwaaıjPJ, et al.Effects of time and temperature on the reaction of tespt silane coupling agent during mixing with silica filler and tire rubber. Rubber Chem Technol2002; 75(2): 187–198. DOI: 10.5254/1.3544972.
28.
VilgisTAHeinrichGKlüppelM. Reinforcing fillers. In: Reinforcement of polymer nano-composites: theory. experiments and applications. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009, pp. 75–100.
29.
MarkovičováLZatkalíkováVKojnokováT. The effect of filler content on the viscosity of polymer composites. QPI2021; 3: 293–298. DOI: 10.2478/cqpi-2021-0028.
ScottPJRauDAWenJ, et al.Polymer-inorganic hybrid colloids for ultraviolet-assisted direct ink write of polymer nanocomposites. Addit Manuf2020; 35: 101393.
32.
ChenDLiuYHuangC. Synergistic effect between POSS and fumed silica on thermal stabilities and mechanical properties of room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubbers. Polym Degrad Stabil2012; 97: 308–315.
33.
RickabySRScottNH. The Mullins effect. In: JerramsSMurphyN (eds). Constitutive models for rubber VII. London, UK: Taylor & Francis, 2011, pp. 273–276.
34.
MullinsL. Effect of stretching on the properties of rubber. Rubber Chem Technol1948; 21(2): 281–300. DOI: 10.5254/1.3546914.
35.
DianiJFayolleBGilorminiP. A review on the Mullins effect. Eur Polym J2009; 45: 601–612. DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2008.11.017.
36.
MieheC. Discontinuous and continuous damage evolution in Ogden-type large-strain elastic materials. Eur J Mech Solid1995; 14: 697–720.
37.
Kazakeviciute-MakovskaR. Experimentally determined properties of softening functions in pseudo-elastic models of the Mullins effect. Int J Solid Struct2007; 44: 4145–4157.
38.
KrishnaswamySBeattyMF. The Mullins effect in compressible solids. Int J Eng Sci2000; 38: 1397–1414.
39.
LaiarinandrasanaLPiquesRRobissonA. Visco-hyperelastic model with internal state variable coupled with discontinuous damage concept under total Lagrangian formulation. Int J Plast2003; 19: 977–1000.
40.
BlanchardAFParkinsonD. Breakage of carbon-rubber networks by applied stress. Ind Eng Chem1952; 44: 799–812.
41.
BuecheF. Molecular basis for the Mullins effect. J Appl Polym Sci1960; 4: 107–114.
42.
HouwinkR. Slipping of molecules during the deformation of reinforced rubber. Rubber Chem Technol1956; 29: 888–893.
43.
KrausGChildersCWRollmanKW. Stress softening in carbon black reinforced vulcanizates. Strain rate and temperature effects. J Appl Polym Sci1966; 10: 229–240.
44.
HansonDEHawleyMHoultonR, et al.Stress softening experiments in silica-filled polydimethylsiloxane provide insight into a mechanism for the Mullins effect. Polymer2005; 46: 10989–10995.
45.
FukahoriY. New progress in the theory and model of carbon black reinforcement of elastomers. J Appl Polym Sci2005; 95: 60–67.
TangZChenFChenQ, et al.The energy dissipation and Mullins effect of tough polymer/graphene oxide hybrid nanocomposite hydrogels. Polym Chem2017; 8: 4659–4672. DOI: 10.1039/c7py01068k.
48.
LiuFLiaoKWangZ. Mechanical properties, morphology, Mullins effect and its reversibility of thermoplastic vulcanizates based on ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer/chloroprene rubber blends. Soft Mater2019; 17: 400–409. DOI: 10.1080/1539445X.2019.1611603.
49.
AnasKDavidSBabuRR, et al.Energy dissipation characteristics of crosslinks in natural rubber: an assessment using low and high-frequency analyzer. J Polym Eng2018; 38(8): 723–729. DOI: 10.1515/polyeng-2016-0425.
50.
ChollakupRSuethaoSSuwanrujiP, et al.Mechanical properties and dissipation energy of carbon black/rubber composites. Compos Adv Mater2021; 30: 1–6. DOI: 10.1177/26349833211005476.
51.
KalantariMAbdiRKatbabAA. Investigating the viscoelastic and hysteresis behavior of nano silica/carbon black hybrid reinforced styrene-butadiene rubber vulcanizates via surface silanization. Polym Eng Sci2023; 63: 2309–2320. DOI: 10.1002/pen.26379.
52.
BabapourAŞenM. Effect of silica type, content, and silanization on the curing, mechanical and energy dissipation properties of poly (epichlorohydrin-co-ethylene oxide-co-allyl glycidyl ether) elastomers. Eur Polym J2024; 206: 112774. DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.112774.
53.
GentAN. Energy dissipation in stretching filled rubbers. J Appl Polym Sci1974; 18: 1397–1406. DOI: 10.1002/app.1974.070180510.
54.
PerssonA-MMRAndreassenE. Cyclic compression testing of three elastomer types—a thermoplastic vulcanizate elastomer. A liquid silicone rubber and two ethylene-propylene-diene rubbers. Polymers2022; 14: 1316. DOI: 10.3390/polym14071316.
GeddeUWHedenqvistMS. Rubber elasticity. In: Fundamental polymer science. Graduate texts in physics. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2019. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-29794-7_3.
57.
BarbeABökampKKummerlöweC, et al.Investigation of modified SEBS-based thermoplastic elastomers by temperature scanning stress relaxation measurements. Polym Eng Sci2005; 45(11): 1498–1507. DOI: 10.1002/pen.20427.
58.
NobariFAŞenMKaraağaçB, et al.Weathering of NR/CR based Rubber vulcanizates: investigation of network structure using Pulse-NMR and temperature scanning stress relaxation (TSSR)techniques. In: MarvalovaBPetrikovaI (eds) Constitutive models for rubber IX. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2015, pp. 87–90.
59.
VennemannNHündorfJKummerlöweC, et al.Phasenmorphologie und Relaxationsverhalten von SEBS/PP-Compounds. Kautsch Gummi Kunstst2001; 54: 362–367.
60.
VennemannN. Praxisgerechte Prüfung von TPE. Kautsch Gummi Kunstst2003; 55: 242–249.
