Performance of Nano- and Microcalcium Carbonate in Uncrosslinked Natural Rubber Composites: New Results of Structure–Properties Relationship

Abstract

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is one of the most important inorganic powders and is widely used as filler in order to reduce costs in the rubber industry. Nanocalcium carbonate reduces costs and acts as a semireinforcing filler that improves the mechanical properties of rubber composites. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nano-CaCO3 (NCC) and micro-CaCO3 (MCC) on the properties of natural rubber composites, in particular, new results of structure–properties relationship. The effects of NCC/MCC on the properties of rubber composites, such as Mooney viscosity, bound rubber, Mullins effect, and Payne effect, were investigated. The result of the Mullins effect of rubber composites filled with NCC was in good agreement with the results of Mooney viscosity and bound rubber, with higher Mooney viscosity and bound rubber leading to higher stress to pull the rubber composites. The Payne effect showed that the value of different storage moduli (ΔG’) of rubber composites filled with 25 parts per hundred rubber (phr) NCC was the lowest due to weaker filler network, while the rubber supplemented with 100 phr NCC had more significant ΔG’ values with increase in strain. The results of rubber composites filled with MCC showed the same tendency as those of rubber composites filled with NCC. However, the effect of specific surface area of NCC on the properties of rubber composites was more pronounced than those of rubber composites filled with MCC. Finite element analysis of the mechanical property of rubber composites was in good agreement with the result from the experiment. The master curves of time–temperature superposition presented lower free volume in the composites for higher loading of filler, which would require more relaxation time of rubber molecules. This type of nanocalcium carbonate material can be applied to tailor the properties and processability of rubber products.