210 likes | 410 Views
International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment NANCO AND UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE JOINT RESEARCH SESSION ON NANOTECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 13-14 December, 2010 at Earls Regency, Kandy, Sri Lanka. NATURAL RUBBER/LAYERED SILCATE NANOCOMPOSITE
E N D
International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment NANCO AND UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE JOINT RESEARCH SESSION ON NANOTECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 13-14 December, 2010 at Earls Regency, Kandy, Sri Lanka
NATURAL RUBBER/LAYERED SILCATE NANOCOMPOSITE FOR BUILDING APPLICATIONS T.C. Peiris (BSc Eng, MSc) U.N. Rathnayake (PhD. Loughborough)
Outline • Conventional rubber composites • Importance of nanotechnology • Feasible nanomaterial and processing with it • Results and discussion • Future directions
Conventional rubber composites Rubber/s + Carbon black/Silica • Key applications in construction industry: - Tires/Tracks - Load bearings (Bridge bearings, Fenders, etc.) - Bushes, Mounts, Floorings - Hoses, Belts, Rollers, Sheets, etc.
Conventional rubber composites Contd. • Is there a material to replace Carbon black? - If so, • Requirements: - A reinforcing material from non-polluted route - Non- petroleum product - Non- hazardous to process - Cost effectiveness
Importance of nanotechnology • Inert materials reinforcing fillers • Advantages of Rubber nanocomposites (RNCs) - Improved mechanical properties at very low loading levels of nanomaterials - Substitute for Rubber / Carbon black or Silica composites - Improved barrier properties - Improved thermal stability
Feasible nanomaterial & processing with it • Montmorillonite (MMT): - Inorganic layered silicate - In-situ nanofiller formation via: - Intercalation and exfoliation of MMT - Provides easy surface modification • Preparation of RNCs: - Solution intercalation - In-situ polymerisation - Latex route - Melt blending (Banbury and two-roll mixing) Paul D.R., Robenson L.M. Polymer nanotechnology: nanocomposites, Journal of Polymer 49 (2008) 3187-3204
Feasible nanomaterial & processing with it Contd. • Preparation of Natural rubber NCs through melt blending: 1) Compatibility between the rubber and the MMT - By organically modifying the MMT (i.e. OMMT) - By incorporating polar additives to the rubber 2) Adjusted processing parameters - By optimising the shear level during the mixing - By optimising the processing time, temperature Thereby achieving maximum intercalation and exfoliation
Feasible nanomaterial & processing with it Contd. • Intercalation and exfoliation Paul D.R., Robenson L.M. Polymer nanotechnology: nanocomposites, Journal of Polymer 49 (2008) 3187-3204
Results & discussion • Several compounds were prepared - All values are in phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber)
Results & discussion Contd. • Vulcanisation characteristics
Results & discussion Contd. • X-ray diffractometer analysis Two theta - Target: for no-peak situation
Results & discussion Contd. • SEM image of cured NRLS4
Feasible nanomaterial & processing with it Contd. • Intercalation and exfoliation 2R N+
Results & discussion Contd. • Tensile strength and Modulus
Results & discussion Contd. - Bridge bearings * - Required properties for bridge bearings** *Engineering with rubber : how to design rubber components / Alan N. ** http://pretread.com/
Future directions - Preparation of NCs with 100% exfoliation - Preparation of NCs by rubber blends - Further improvements along barrier properties & thermal stability - Improvements towards functional materials (antistatic, electrical, magnetic or hybrid etc.)
Acknowledgement Prof. Ajith De Alwis & Prof. Veranjakarunarathne for the leadership given Team NANCO Loadstar Pvt, Ltd