Versatile NBR/EPDM reinforced Cu–Al–Zn alloy composites with inherent soft magnetic behavior
摘要
Herein, multifunctional NBR/EPDM elastomeric composites were developed by reinforcing the matrix with a Cu–Al–Zn alloy and functionalizing it using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) as a coupling agent. The aim was to enhance soft magnetic behavior while maintaining balanced mechanical, thermal, dielectric, and curing performance. Composites containing 2.5–35 phr alloy (NE2, NE3, NE5, NE8) were examined using rheometry, stress relaxation, DSC, TGA, tensile testing, SEM, magnetic hysteresis, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. TMSPM promoted strong filler–matrix adhesion, enabling uniform dispersion at moderate alloy contents. NE2–NE3 exhibited improved torque response, higher tensile strength, reduced tan δ, and lower swelling, confirming increased crosslink density and stable network formation. DSC and TGA revealed enhanced chain packing and thermal stability, while magnetic analysis verified soft magnetic behavior, with NE3 offering the optimal balance of mechanical integrity and magnetization. Dielectric measurements showed increased permittivity and conductivity with alloy addition, where NE3 displayed a thermally responsive dielectric profile and NE8 achieved the highest conductivity and strongest estimated EMI attenuation at high frequency. Excessive loading (NE8) caused agglomeration and reduced mechanical uniformity. Overall, combining Cu–Al–Zn alloy with TMSPM produced elastomeric composites with enhanced mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and dielectric properties suitable for flexible magnetic components, adaptive damping systems, and lightweight EMI-absorbing applications.