Cover Image, Volume 138, Issue 8

Abstract

Secondary electron image created by Gianluca Cattinari and colleagues showing the interaction between Natural Rubber (NR) globules and CarbonBlack (CB) aggregates occurring in the liquid state. Samples have been in liquid condition using vapour of osmium, preventing the immersion in a liquid solution containing the fixative agent, and allowing exploitation of both secondary electron (SE) and backscattered electron (BSE) imaging modes. This protocol allowed us to image the nanoscale between CB filler and NR globules highlighting a formation of the latter. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/app.50221

Microstructure and Segmental Dynamics of Industrially Relevant Polymer Nanocomposites

“…For the sake of completeness, it is also mentioned that the structural studies based on the correlationhole idea have been applied to industrial PNCs formulated with natural rubber and silica [26]. Quite some research is currently devoted to systems obtained by rapid coagulation [27], which seems to be an industrially promising way to return from synthetic to natural, bio-based, and thus sustainable materials. In the work by Boonsomwong et al [26], the structure of such systems has been measured by SAXS, with specific attention paid to mechanical rejuvenation of the samples.…”

Improving the swelling, mechanical, and electrical properties in natural rubber latex/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites: Effect of the sonication method

“…This is of greater importance when using sonication to disperse fillers in latex media when the viscosities are higher. 25 On the other hand, the sonication energy damping can reduce the probability of fillers rupture, which is especially undesirable in high aspect ratio fillers like CNT. 29,30 This filler rupture can occur due to the overapplied shear tensions promoted by sonication to break the agglomerate binding energy for fillers separation.…”

“…The authors studied the effect of sonication time in the suspension viscosity, which increased and attenuated the sonochemistry energy. This is of greater importance when using sonication to disperse fillers in latex media when the viscosities are higher 25 . On the other hand, the sonication energy damping can reduce the probability of fillers rupture, which is especially undesirable in high aspect ratio fillers like CNT 29,30 .…”

“…Thus, to avoid this agglomeration, some approaches have been used to improve the dispersion of these nanoparticles. Among these techniques are the fillers incorporation and mixing using a different media (solvent or latex), instead of the standard melt processing that is especially difficult in nano‐elastomeric compounds due to their high viscosity 21–25 . The low viscosity of these “wet” methods enables the transference of higher shear stress from the suspension to the nanoparticles, promoting superior deagglomeration.…”