iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
DECLARATION APPROVAL
DEDICATION
ABSTRACT i
ABSTRAK ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iv
LIST OF TABLES vii
LIST OF FIGURES ix
LIST OF APPENDICES xiii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS xiv
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS xvi
CHAPTER 1.
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Research Background 1
1.2 Problem Statement and Significance of Study 5
1.3 Research Objectives 8
1.4 Scope of Research 9
1.5 Thesis Organisation 10
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
11
2.1 Polymer Nanocomposites 11
2.1.1 Polymer Blends as Matrix Materials 14
2.1.2 Reinforcement Materials 17
2.1.3 Processing of Polymer Nanocomposites 18
2.2 Rubber Blends based Nanocomposites 21
2.2.1 Rubber Blends 21
2.2.2 Miscibility and Compatibility 28
2.2.3 Vulcanisation of Rubber Materials 30
2.3 GNPs based Polymer Nanocomposites 35
2.3.1 Mechanical and Thermal Properties of GNPs 36
2.3.2 Aggregation and Agglomeration of GNPs 37
2.4 Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites 42
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Introduction 45
3.2 Flowchart of Research 45
3.3 Raw Materials 47
3.4 Stage 1: Preparation and Characterisation of NREPDM Blends 50
3.4.1 Design of Experiment DOE 50
3.4.2 Melt Blending of NREPDM blends ASTM D 3192 52
3.4.3 Process Evaluation using Cure Characteristic Studies 54
ASTM D 2084 3.4.4 Blends Vulcanisation and Sample Preparation
54
v 3.4.5 Mechanical Tensile Testing BS 6746
55 3.4.6 Shore-A Hardness Testing ASTM D 2240-89
56 3.4.7 Swelling Test ISO 1817
57 3.4.8 Thermal Evaluation by Differential Scanning Calorimetry 58
DSC 3.4.9 Fracture Morphology Observation by Scanning Electron
Microscopy SEM 58
3.4.10 Decision of Processing Parameters 59
3.5 Stage 2: Pre-Treatment of GNPs Prior to Preparation of NREPDM filled GNPs Nanocomposite Blends
60 3.5.1 Surface Modification and Characterisation of Graphene
Nanoplatelets GNPs 60
3.5.1.1 Precipitation Analysis of GNPs in Various Solvents
60 3.5.1.2 Non-covalent Surface Treatment of GNPs
61 3.5.1.3 Fourier Transform Infrared FTIR Spectroscopy 62
Analysis 3.5.1.4 X-ray Diffraction XRD Analysis
62 3.5.1.5 Transmission Electron Microscopy TEM
62 Observation
3.6 Stage 3: Mechanical and Physical Properties of NREPDM 63
filled GNPs Nanocomposite 3.6.1 Melt Blending of NREPDM filled GNPs Nanocomposite
63 3.6.2 Mechanical and Physical Properties of NREPDM
64 filled GNPs Nanocomposite
3.6.2.1 Cure Characteristic Testing ASTM D 2084 64
3.6.2.2 Vulcanisation and Sample Fabrication 65
3.6.2.3 Mechanical Tensile Testing BS 6746 65
3.6.2.4 Shore-A Hardness Testing ASTM D 2240-89 65
3.6.2.5 Swelling Test ISO 1817 65
3.6.2.6 X-ray Diffraction XRD Analysis 66
3.6.2.7 Fracture Morphology Observation by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy FESEM
3.7 Stage 4: Thermal Properties Evaluation of NREPDM 66
GNPs Nanocomposite Blends 3.7.1 Heat Dissipation Study using Thermal Conductivity
66 Analysis TCA Test
3.7.2 Heat Degradation Study by Thermogravimetric Analysis 68
TGA 3.7.4 Dynamic Properties Study using Dynamic Mechanical
68 Analysis DMA
3.8 Summary 68
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
