Comparison Between Tensile Properties And Fatigue Behaviour Of NR-EPDM Blend And Its Nanocomposites For Potential Application In Engine Mounting

Saari, Mohamad Fikri Salehudin (2017) Comparison Between Tensile Properties And Fatigue Behaviour Of NR-EPDM Blend And Its Nanocomposites For Potential Application In Engine Mounting. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

In recent years, polymer nanocomposites have shown remarkable improvement in their properties which have attracted great interest among the researcher all around the world. This research is about the potential uses for the graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) filled the natural rubber (NR)/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) blends to produce the materials for the engine mounts based on physical, structural and thermal properties. The objective of this research is the comparison between the tensile properties and the fatigue behaviour of the NR/EPDM blends and NR/EPDM nanocomposites with 3wt% of GNPs. Besides, the tensile properties and fatigue behaviour of NR/EPDM blend and NR/EPDM nanocomposites were evaluated using morphological, structural and thermal characteristics. This research involves the sample preparation of the NR/EPDM blends and nanocomposites which includes mixing process using a HAAKE internal mixer at a temperature of 100°C, rotor speed 40 rpm and mixed for 7 minutes and then cure using hot press machine at 150°C, then tensile and fatigue testing to evaluate the physical properties and finally the analysis of the final product. Furthermore, tensile test result for the NR /EPDM with 3wt% of GNPs is higher than NR/EPDM blends which prove that the nanocomposites has higher in strength compare to the blends and from fatigue testing result, the NR/EPDM blends experience high stress value compared to the NR/EPDM nanocomposites with 3wt% of GNPs. This occurred because the addition of GNPs into the rubber matrix will enhance the stiffness of the matrix. The result for the tensile strength and the fatigue behaviour than supported with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) which shows the fracture surface and cross section for both formulation. As for the structural and thermal, the material tested using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. It was then observed, the NR/EPDM nanocomposites has better properties than the blends. Good dispersion of GNPs in the rubber matrix was strongly enhanced the properties of the rubber nanocomposites that improve the possibility to produce the rubber engine mount using NR/EPDM nanocomposites.

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