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- EPDM (2)
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- Crosslink Density (1)
- End-of-Life-Tires (1)
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Ground tire rubber (GTR) is a product obtained by grinding worn tire treads before retreading them or via the cryogenic or ambient temperature milling of end-of-life tires (ELTs). The aim of this study is to evaluate if calcium carbonate can be substituted by GTR and, if so, to what extent. Different types of ground tire rubber are incorporated in an EPDM (ethylene–propylene–diene–rubber) model compound as partial or complete substitutes of calcium carbonate. The raw compounds and the vulcanizates are characterized to identify the limits. In general, it is apparent that increasing amounts of GTR and larger particles degrade the mechanical properties. The GTR also influences the vulcanization kinetics by reducing the scorch time up to 50% and vulcanization time up to nearly 80%. This is significant for production processes. The compounds with one-third substitution with the smaller-particle-size GTR show mostly similar or even better properties than the reference.
Ni–Ti alloys are used as functional materials in numerous sectors such as aerospace, automotive engineering, medical technology, and consumer goods. Their properties in terms of shape memory effect and superelasticity offer a great potential for innovative smart products. However, forming and machining of these alloys into concrete products is challenging. Assembling plain structures by laser welding to complex product shapes offers an economical alternative in many cases, but can be associated with negative effects, such as reduction of strength, development of brittle intermetallic compounds, alteration of transformation temperatures, and modification of shape memory effects and superelastic behavior. Against this background, investigations on laser welding of Ni55/Ti45 foil with a thickness of 125 µ m by a fiber laser were conducted. Supported by methods of design of experiments, optimal parameters were determined with respect to laser power, welding speed, focus position, and beam oscillation, and the welding results were analyzed concerning the microstructure and mechanical characteristics of the welded joints. The effect of laser beam oscillation was investigated for the first time for the welding of this alloy. Due to the very low thickness, the preparation of the foils for the microstructure characterization is quite demanding. Best results were obtained by ion milling. Fracture surfaces and the influence of the welding were also investigated.
Three-dimensional printing is ideally suited to produce unique and complex shapes. In this study, the material properties of polysiloxanes, commonly named silicones, produced additively by two different methods, namely, multi-jet fusion (MJF) and material extrusion (ME) with liquid printing heads, are investigated. The chemical composition was compared via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, evolved gas analysis mass spectrometry, pyrolysis gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, and thermogravimetry (TGA). Density and low-temperature flexibility, mechanical properties and crosslink distance via freezing point depression were measured before and after post-treatment at elevated temperatures. The results show significant differences in the chemical composition, material properties, as well as surface quality of the tested products produced by the two manufacturing routes. Chemical analysis indicates that the investigated MJF materials contain acrylate moieties, possibly isobornyl acrylate linking branches. The hardness of the MJF samples is associated with crosslinking density. In the ashes after TGA, traces of phosphorus were found, which could originate from initiators or catalysts of the curing process. The ME materials contain fillers, most probably silica, that differ in their amount. It is possible that silica also plays a role in the processing to stabilize the extrusion strand. For the harder material, a higher crosslink density was found, which was supported also by the other tested properties. The MJF samples have smooth surfaces, while the ME samples show grooved surface structures typical for the material extrusion process. Post-treatment did not improve the material properties. In the MJF samples, significant color changes were observed.
The crosslink density of elastomers is the essential property that determines many other but especially the mechanical product properties. Different raw materials, especially recycled and bio-based materials, influence the vulcanization and may change the crosslink density when they are used as a substitute to conventional raw materials. Aim of this study is to develop a procedure that allows the reliable determination of the crosslink density in highly filled EPDM compounds as basis for future investigations focussed on substitution with sustainable materials in this compound. Unfortunately, experiences with other rubber compounds like tire treads cannot be directly applied here because of the use of other filler types and amounts as well as the differences in the polymer with regard to active sites (available double bonds). Equilibrium swelling, Flory-stress-strain-measurements, freezing point depression and temperature-scanning-stress-relaxation are applied to a model EPDM compound with high filler and softener amount as typically used for sealings. For sensitivity investigation the amount of the crosslink agent sulfur was varied. Furthermore, the influence of different accelerators was investigated. All methods are able to determine the crosslink density but with different standard deviations due to measurement errors. Partially, they can be optimized for this use case. Based on the results a combination of Flory-stress-strain-measurements and freezing point depression was chosen to be used in the future.