PARTICLE SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND PROPERTIES OF FILLED POLYMER SYSTEMS

 
 
 
 

PARTICLE SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND PROPERTIES OF FILLED POLYMER SYSTEMS

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Title: PARTICLE SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND PROPERTIES OF FILLED POLYMER SYSTEMS
Author: KOHLS, DOUG
Description: This dissertation presents results on the reinforcement of an elastomer system using different types of fillers and comparing the resulting mechanical properties of compounds made with these fillers. The analytic approach uses two classical models with which fillers are thought to reinforce elastomers. The first mechanism being based on filler structure while the second involves the interaction of the filler with an elastomer. This work builds off of previous studies that use techniques such as microscopy and gas adsorption to characterize filler structure by adding the use of small-angle x-ray scattering to characterize fillers based on three structural levels. Classical rubber elasticity principles with recent fractal model analysis are used to describe how the structural levels of the fillers relate to elastomer reinforcement. Analysis of the SAXS data gives information about the size of the primary particle and of the aggregate formed by these primary particles. It is found, through analyzing the SAXS data, that the ratio of these two structural sizes gives the degree of aggregation or the number of particles in an aggregate. The measurement and analysis of the degree of aggregation and how it correlates with measured mechanical properties of compounds is presented in this dissertation. The results from the USAXS and the mechanical testing of elastomers showed that the degree of aggregation, z, helps to identify what is a ‘reinforcing’ filler. Higher degree of aggregation correlated with better mechanical properties. While other studies have shown the effects of surface modifications, filler concentration, and surface area, the studies in this dissertation conclude that the degree of aggregation is an important parameter that can predict the reinforcing behavior of aggregated silica fillers.
Permanent Link: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1155826489
http://hdl.handle.net/2374.OX/11064
Date: 2006

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