Effect of nanofiller shape on viscoelasticity of rubber nanocomposite investigated by FEA

Based on the micromechanical theory, the effect of the shapes of nanofillers on the viscoelasticity of rubber nanocomposites was evaluated by the finite element analysis. The shapes of nanofillers we discussed included sphere, cylinder, tube, plate, ring, and spring. Two types of interphase – “bonding interphase” and “frictional interphase” – which represented the strong interphase and the weak interphase respectively were assumed to discuss the effect of interphase on the viscoelasticity of rubber nanocomposites. The dissipation and loss factors were calculated and discussed. The predicted results show that the shapes of nanofillers have great effect on the viscoelasticity of rubber nanocomposite. Including the spring nanofillers in the rubber matrix can greatly decrease the loss factor of the nanocomposite when the interphase is a “bonding interphase,” while including the ring nanofillers in the rubber matrix can greatly increase the loss factor of the nanocomposite when the interphase is a “frictional interphase.”