Relaxtion Behavior of Elastomer Composites: The Effect of a Hybrid Carbon Black/Carbon Nanotubes Filler

Abstract

The article analyzes relaxation α-transition in elastomeric composites containing a hybrid carbon black/carbon nanotubes (CB/CNT) filler. According to the Dynamic Mechanical Testing (DMA) data, the inclusion of hybrid particles CB/CNT in the filler leads to the expansion of the temperature dependences of the loss tangent (TanD) for all samples towards lower temperatures and the displacement of the position of the TanD maximum by a value from 4.0 up to 16 degrees in comparison with control vulcanizate. The DSC data indicate the presence of additional lowtemperature α-relaxation transitions in modified vulcanizates (-123 ... -118◦C). The observed relaxation behavior of macromolecules is due to the appearance in the material of regions with less dense packing of macromolecules and, as a consequence, the expansion of their conformational set for segmental motion under low-temperature conditions. It guarantees getting a material with increased fatigue resistance and frost resistance.