Effect of thermal cycles on tensile properties of NR/EPDM nanocomposites for engine mounting

Lim, Ruoh Lin (2017) Effect of thermal cycles on tensile properties of NR/EPDM nanocomposites for engine mounting. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

This report focusing on the effect of thermal cycles on tensile properties of NR/EPDM blend and GNPs filled NR/EPDM nancomposites for engine mounting which normally experience heating effect from engine in service. In this case, apart from damping, hardness and tensile properties, thermal also plays an important role to determine the mechanical properties of engine mounting. However, the study related to the effect of thermal cycles on mechanical properties of this material are still scarce. The blends and nanocomposites were prepared via melt compounding using a Haake internal mixer at a temperature of 110 °C, rotor speed of 40 rpm and mixed for 7 minutes and subsequently cured using a hot press machine at 150 °C. The blends and nanocomposites were then exposed to two different temperatures at 60 °C and 120 °C and cooled down to room temperature alternately for durations of 10 minutes and repeated for 0, 35, 70 and 150 times. The tensile behaviours of NR/EPDM blend and GNPs filled nanocomposites exhibited dramatically drop of ~ 9% and ~ 14% respectively at 60 °C thermal cycles, whereas both rubbers changed drastically down to ~ 61% and ~ 64% from 5 to 35 thermal cycles at 120 °C. It experienced molecular degradation due to absorption of thermal energy during the thermal cycles and decreased the crystallinity from transformation to rubbery to glassy behaviour and supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). From SEM result showed the blends and nanocomposites changes to brittle behaviour as the matrix shear yielding change thinner and the size of interface getting small. Type I fracture behaviour indicated decreased in elongation at break (EB) and modulus at 100% (M100) gradually at lower temperature thermal cycles. For type II fracture behaviour experienced drastic drop in EB from 5 to 35 thermal cycles and decreased constantly in M100 at higher temperature. In overall, GNPs filled NR/EPDM are capable to sustain the thermal degradation from thermal cycles effect particularly for a mount rubber.

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