Elastic Composites Containing Carbonous Fillers Functionalized by Ionic Liquid: Viscoelastic Properties

In this work, the properties of polymer composites filled with carbon fillers were investigated. The subject of the research was polymeric materials prepared from styrene-butadiene rubber (KER 1500) commonly used in rubber processing, using a conventional sulfur-containing curing system. Two different carbon fillers were applied, namely furnace carbon black (N550) and graphene nanoplatelets (XG G300). These fillers were modified in bulk (during rubber compound preparation) with 4-methyl-1-butylpyridinium bromide (BmPyBr). Modifier would interact with filler's surface through, e.g., π-π interactions between its pyridine ring and surface of the fillers. The paper highlights the different tendency of the polymer to interact with filler particles of different shapes and sizes, as well as the interactions between filler particles in the presence of an ionic liquid. The rheometric properties of rubber compounds as well as cross-linking density and mechanical properties of SBR composites were studied. Additionally, rheological and viscoelastic properties at the service temperature and the damping properties as a function of deformation of the obtained materials were examined.