Payne Effect and Weak Overshoot in Rubber Nanocomposites

Payne effect and its associated weak overshoot are of importance for understanding and regulating the softening of rubber nanocomposites under large amplitude oscillations. Herein, Payne effect in diverse filled vulcanizates is investigated for generalizing the common characteristics. Master curves of strain amplitude dependent storage modulus are created with respect to microscopic strain amplitude of the matrix, revealing a matrix-dominated elastic nonlinearity being independent of type and dispersity of filler, crosslinking density and sol fraction of matrix and filler-rubber interfacial interactions. However, carbonaceous fillers with higher affinity to the rubber matrices yield lower strain amplification and higher overshoot behavior in comparison with siliceous silica. The investigation would be illuminating for preparing rubber nanocomposites with optimized reinforcement and softening performances.