2019 Volume 92 Issue 4 Pages 152-157
We analyzed the distribution of silica particles dispersed in an elastomer under deformation by reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) modelling. Using our RMC code, we can analyze a large system with many particles on a desktop PC. The code is effective for analyzing a system having a hierarchical structure like a rubber material. Ultra small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) measurements under elongation by a bulge tester were performed on a silica-filled elastomer. The RMC modelling of USAXS data revealed the modification of the particle distribution in three dimensions. It was observed in the unstretched state that large sparse and dense parts formed, in terms of the particle dispersion, while these distinct regions disappeared on elongation. Furthermore, pair distribution function and interparticle angular distribution suggested that the dense regions show a structural order similar to a liquid metal, and that this ordering decreases due to elongation.
