Swelling Behavior And Mechanical Properties In Filled Elastomeric Nano-Composites In Contact With Organic Solvents

Abstract

Abstract The effect of organic solvents on the transport process and mechanical properties in elastomeric nanocomposite materials is reported. The investigated samples are formed by a semicrystalline ethylene-co-butyl acrylate (EBA) polymer filled with hard spherical carbon black (CB) nanoparticles. The swelling behavior was studied at room temperature by immersion the dried samples in two selected solvents, i.e. toluene and xylene. The transport of the molecules of a given solvent in these filled elastomeric composites is found to follow a Fickian diffusion mechanism. Mechanically speaking, the stress-strain curves of uniaxial tensile tests pre-and post-swelling highlight a remarkably decrease of the Young’s modulus and strength of the swollen samples. This behavior can be attributed to the decrease of the load transfer density between the matrix and the CB in the presence of the solvent. The Mooney-Rivlin model is used to capture the physics of the stress-strain curves in both dry and swollen samples. The results reported in this experimental investigation can be useful for some demanding applications.