Morphologyand nanomechanical characteristics of NR/SBR blends

Abstract

Tire tread materials are generally blends of two or more rubbers, fillers, and other materials, resulting in a rubber compound with complex multiphase morphology. The bulk properties of these blends are influenced by morphology and microphase characteristics, hence the desire for techniques that can both discriminate between phases in a blend and provide quantitative information about their physical properties. The effect of polymer ratio and microstructure of SBR on blend morphology and nanomechanical mapping of unfilled NR/SBR blends will be discussed. With nanoindentation techniques available through the use of atomic force microscopy, nanomechanical properties are determined and compared with macroscopic values obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis.