Dynamic Properties of Filled Elastomers

In response to the increased demand for fuel efficiency and sustainability, companies are seeking advancements in tire technologies to decrease fuel consumption by reducing rolling resistance. In this study, we use polymer grafted silica particles to get better control over the dispersion of the particles in an elastomeric matrix. Previous work in the group has shown that tuning parameters like grafting density and the ratio of matrix to graft chain length results in various dispersion states, which in turn have a direct correlation with reinforcement. Mechanical analysis on melt nanocomposites show that reinforcement is maximized by the formation of a percolating network. On the other hand, the crosslinked composites showed notable enchancement in reinforcement at low grafting density where the sample exhibits sheet like aggregated morphology. With an ultimate goal in mind to understand the reinforcement and hysteresis in rubber tires, we further aim to understand the conditions responsible behind it through the study of Payne effect.