Nonlinear Viscoelasticity of Two Dimensional
Filler Reinforced Rubber Nanocomposites
Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni and Yves Grohens
Abstract This chapter describes the effect of two dimensional filler particles on
the non-linear viscoelastic properties of elastomer nanocomposites. The distribution of nanosized fillers and the existing interactions—nanofiller-nanofiller and
nanofiller-matrix—in the nanocomposite systems are crucial for understanding
their behavior under dynamic-mechanical conditions. The non-linear stress
response of rubbers and its composites to an applied strain is very significant in
formulating the material applications. The reported nonlinear viscoelastic properties for composites of two dimentional fillers such as clay and graphene in different
elastomer matrices are critically reviewed. Rheological and dynamic mechanical
properties of elastomer nanocomposites are mainly dealt with. The addition of 2D
filler particles alters the nonlinear behavior of the loss factor with strain mostly by
increasing the level of viscometric properties. Moreover the addition of highaspect-ratio, sheet-like fillers increase the elasticity as well as the viscosity.
Keywords Clay • Composites • Graphene • Nanocomposites • Rubbers • Twodimensional fillers
1 Introduction
Viscoelasticity is a phenomenon observed in most of the polymers since they
possess elastic and viscous characteristics when deformed. The properties such as
creep, stress relaxation, mechanical damping, vibration absorption and hysteresis
are included in viscoelasticity. If a material shows linear variation of strain upon the
application of stress on it, its behavior is said to be linear viscoelastic. Elastomers
and soft biological tissues undergo large deformations and exhibit time dependent
stress strain behavior and are nonlinear viscoelastic materials. The non-linear
viscoelastic properties of solid polymers are often based on creep and stressK.K. Sadasivuni (*)
School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills P.O., Kottayam
686 560, Kerala, India
e-mail: kishor_kumars@yahoo.com
Y. Grohens
LIMATB Laboratory, Universite ´ de Bretagne Sud, rue St Maude ´, 56100 Lorient, France
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
D. Ponnamma, S. Thomas (eds.), Non-Linear Viscoelasticity of Rubber Composites and
Nanocomposites, Advances in Polymer Science 264, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-08702-3_3
43
Filler Reinforced Rubber Nanocomposites
Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni and Yves Grohens
Abstract This chapter describes the effect of two dimensional filler particles on
the non-linear viscoelastic properties of elastomer nanocomposites. The distribution of nanosized fillers and the existing interactions—nanofiller-nanofiller and
nanofiller-matrix—in the nanocomposite systems are crucial for understanding
their behavior under dynamic-mechanical conditions. The non-linear stress
response of rubbers and its composites to an applied strain is very significant in
formulating the material applications. The reported nonlinear viscoelastic properties for composites of two dimentional fillers such as clay and graphene in different
elastomer matrices are critically reviewed. Rheological and dynamic mechanical
properties of elastomer nanocomposites are mainly dealt with. The addition of 2D
filler particles alters the nonlinear behavior of the loss factor with strain mostly by
increasing the level of viscometric properties. Moreover the addition of highaspect-ratio, sheet-like fillers increase the elasticity as well as the viscosity.
Keywords Clay • Composites • Graphene • Nanocomposites • Rubbers • Twodimensional fillers
1 Introduction
Viscoelasticity is a phenomenon observed in most of the polymers since they
possess elastic and viscous characteristics when deformed. The properties such as
creep, stress relaxation, mechanical damping, vibration absorption and hysteresis
are included in viscoelasticity. If a material shows linear variation of strain upon the
application of stress on it, its behavior is said to be linear viscoelastic. Elastomers
and soft biological tissues undergo large deformations and exhibit time dependent
stress strain behavior and are nonlinear viscoelastic materials. The non-linear
viscoelastic properties of solid polymers are often based on creep and stressK.K. Sadasivuni (*)
School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills P.O., Kottayam
686 560, Kerala, India
e-mail: kishor_kumars@yahoo.com
Y. Grohens
LIMATB Laboratory, Universite ´ de Bretagne Sud, rue St Maude ´, 56100 Lorient, France
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
D. Ponnamma, S. Thomas (eds.), Non-Linear Viscoelasticity of Rubber Composites and
Nanocomposites, Advances in Polymer Science 264, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-08702-3_3
43