Elastomer Compositions Using Carbon Nanostructure Fillers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elastomeric compositions require large amounts of fillers like carbon black and silica to achieve desirable mechanical and electrical properties, and there is a need for compositions that can utilize lower filler amounts while maintaining or exceeding these properties.
Innovation Solution
The development of elastomeric compositions that incorporate carbon nanostructures, fragments of carbon nanostructures, or fractured multiwall carbon nanotubes as primary fillers, which are crosslinked and entangled, allowing for reduced filler loading while enhancing mechanical and electrical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fillers like carbon black and silica are used to achieve desirable mechanical and electrical properties, then the mechanical and electrical properties are improved, but large amounts of filler additions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the filler by using carbon nanostructures with specific characteristics (tube diameter of 1-100 nm, length of 1-1000 µm, aspect ratio of 100-100,000) instead of conventional carbon black. This parameter change enables achieving the same mechanical and electrical properties with significantly lower filler loading (0.1-50 phr vs. conventional high loadings).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining elastomer with carbon nanostructures that have unique crosslinked, entangled, and branched architectures. This composite structure provides superior reinforcement efficiency and electrical conductivity at low filler concentrations compared to conventional filler-e elastomer composites.
2Quantity of substance
If lower filler amounts are used in elastomeric compositions, then filler loading is reduced, but mechanical and electrical properties may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the filler parameters to carbon nanostructures with high aspect ratios and controlled morphologies, the patent achieves enhanced mechanical strength and electrical conductivity at low loadings. The unique nanostructure parameters enable efficient stress transfer and conductive network formation at lower concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using conventional zero-dimensional particulate fillers to one-dimensional carbon nanostructures (nanotubes). This dimensional change provides superior aspect ratios that enable better mechanical reinforcement and electrical percolation networks at lower filler loadings, effectively solving the property deterioration issue.
3Reliability
If conventional fillers are used to achieve desirable properties, then the mechanical and electrical properties are improved, but production costs may increase due to large filler amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes filler parameters to carbon nanostructures that provide superior performance at low loadings, directly reducing material costs. The high aspect ratio and controlled morphology enable efficient reinforcement, reducing the quantity of expensive filler material needed while maintaining or improving properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite system with optimized carbon nanostructure-e elastomer interfaces that maximize reinforcement efficiency. This composite approach reduces the total filler content required, thereby reducing production costs associated with filler purchase, handling, and processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Elastomeric compositions are described that include at least one filler that are carbon nanostructures or fragments thereof. Methods to prepare elastomeric compositions are further described. Loadings of the carbon nanostructures can be from about 0.1 phr to about 50 phr or a volume fraction of from about 0.1 vol % to about 20 vol %.