Study on the Effect of Filler Distribution and Polymer Phase Structure on Young’s Modulus in SBR/IR Rubber Blends using Finite Element Method Simulation

Abstract

In this paper, we report the results of a study using finite element method (FEM) simulation on the relationship between the morphology and physical properties of a filler-filled blended rubber. In the blended rubber of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and isoprene rubber (IR), the distributability of the silica fillers of both phases is different. As a result, when the blend ratio is changed, the effective filling amount of the filler in each rubber phase fluctuates, a difference in the reinforcing effect occurs, and the mechanical property value of the blended rubber changes discontinuously.

Furthermore, the phase separation structure of rubber changes in a complicated manner depending on the blend ratio. We expressed the input physical property value as a function of the distribution ratio of the filler, and devised a simulation model using a typical phase-separated structure model of the polymer blend. Using this model, we report the results of considering the relationship between filler dispersibility, phase structure, and Young’s modulus in blended rubber.