BARC/PUB/2018/0333

 
 

Mechanical hysteresis, interface and filler—filler structural breakdowns in ethylene vinyl acetate organoclay composites internally lubricated via radiolytically degraded PTFE microparticles

 
     
 
Author(s)

Dubey, K. A.; Sastry, P. U.; Jitendra Kumar; Mondal, R. K.; Jayakrishnan, V. B.; Melo, J. S.; Bhardwaj, Y. K.; Varshney, L.
(RTDD;SSPD;NA&BTD)

Source

Journal of Polymer Science-B, 2018. Vol. 56 (6): pp. 509-519

ABSTRACT

Inclusion of two or more distinct fillers (hybrid fillers) in a matrix is envisaged to entail synergetic advantages. This study reports synthesis and property evaluation of a novel hybrid filler-based polymer composite containing two types of fillers with distinct attributes namely mechanical reinforcement and internal lubrication. Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) microparticles (PTFEMP) were synthesized via radiolytic-mechanical degradation and used as an internal lubricant for organoclay (OC) reinforced ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix. Mechanical hysteresis, nonlinear and linear small amplitude oscillatory shear rheology, morphology, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic coefficient of friction (DCoF), surface wetting and thermoxidative stability of binary and ternary composites were investigated. In EVA/OC composites, PTFEMP acted as an internal lubricant and reduced DCoF in a volume fractiondependent fashion. OC and PTFEMP both increased the mechanical hysteresis of EVA; though the magnitude of hysteresis was much less in PTFEMP. Intriguingly, PTFEMP reduced mechanical hysteresis of EVA/OC composites that is work done during loading and unloading stress–strain cycles was considerably reduced with the inclusion of PTFEMP in EVA/OC composites. SAXS results revealed mass fractals and the presence of an interfacial layer in EVA/OC composites but not in EVA/PTFEMP composites.

 
 
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