High strain-rate and quasi-static mechanical characteristics of the natural rubber-based elastomer nanocomposite reinforced with alumina nanoparticles

Mostafa Nouraei, Gholamhossein Liaghat, Hamed Ahmadi, Ahmad Reza Bahramian, Alireza Taherzadeh-Fard, Samireh Vahid

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    10 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The present study is devoted to investigating the mechanical characteristics of a novel natural rubber (NR)-based elastomer nanocomposite reinforced with carbon black and alumina nanoparticles acting as partial and primary reinforcements, respectively. Before conducting various mechanical tests on the specimens, the vulcanization properties of this elastomer nanocomposite was surveyed. It is demonstrated that adding the alumina nanoparticles to the NR-based elastomer matrix can significantly reduce the cure time and improve the quality of the vulcanizates. Then, the influence of alumina nanoparticles on the modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break, and energy absorption capacity of the elastomer nanocomposite were assessed, and the ideal nanoparticles’ weight percentage was determined to be 10%. This is supported by calculating the Reinforcing Efficiency Parameter (REP), indicating that the elastomer nanocomposite with 10% alumina has the best reinforcing efficiency in tensile properties. Also, using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB), it was found that the material is exceptionally strain-rate sensitive, and the specimens exhibited much higher values of stiffness and energy absorption under high strain-rate loading. It is inferred from the results that the elastomer nanocomposite reinforced with the optimal amount of alumina nanoparticles can be an excellent candidate for energy absorption applications under high strain-rate loadings.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number073168442211416
    Pages (from-to)871-892
    Number of pages22
    JournalJournal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites
    Volume42
    Issue number17-18
    Early online date22 Nov 2022
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023

    Keywords

    • Materials Chemistry
    • Polymers and Plastics
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Mechanics of Materials
    • Ceramics and Composites

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