Interactive effects between carbon allotropes on the mechanical reinforcement of nanocomposites based on poly(1,4- cis -isoprene)

Interactive effects of carbon allotropes on the mechanical reinforcement of polymer nanocomposites were investigated by using, as the polymer matrix, poly(1,4-cis-isoprene) (PI) samples from industrial synthesis and from natural sources. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nano-graphite with high shape anisotropy (nanoG) were melt blended with PI, as the only fillers or in combination with carbon black (CB), measuring the shear modulus at low strain amplitudes. The nanofiller was found to increase the low amplitude storage modulus of the matrix, with or without CB, by a factor depending on nanofiller type and content. The filler-polymer interfacial area was able to correlate modulus data of composites with CNT, CB and with the hybrid filler system, leading to the construction of a common master curve. The filler networking phenomenon was found to be affected by type and amount of low molecular mass products of PI from natural sources. The correlation between chemical composition, dynamic mechanical and ultimate properties of nanocomposites was investigated. In particular, it was found that low molecular mass components control the ability of elastomeric nano-composites to store or dissipate energy.