Effect of cross-linking degree on thermal-mechanical properties of vulcanized SBR

Effect of cross-linking degree on thermal-mechanical properties of vulcanized SBR | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Effect of cross-linking degree on thermal-mechanical properties of vulcanized SBR Tian Yan, Kejian Wang, Xiuying Zhao This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6667597/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 06 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Polymer Research → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) has attracted widespread attention due to its excellent thermal-mechanical properties, which critically govern its processing and service performance. While existing research predominantly focuses on blending and filling modifications, the influence of vulcanization characteristics on these properties and their underlying micro-mechanisms remain underexplored. This work systematically investigates how cross-linking degree ( D c) modulates the thermal-mechanical properties of vulcanized SBR, including shear viscosity η , bulk viscosity η b , specific heat capacity( C p , C v ), as well as the thermal conductivity( κ ). Key findings reveal that increasing shear rate (γ&) enhances the susceptibility of molecular chains to orientation, thereby decreasing η by 83.4–93.2%. Moreover, greater γ& resulted in heightened intermolecular forces, constraining the movement of the molecular chains and consequently increasing η b by 88.6-100.9%. Conversely, higher D c intensifies intermolecular constraints, elevating η and η b by 65.5–23.3% and 6.6–11.1%, respectively, within the same shear regime. Thermally, a 48.4% increase in κ is observed at D c = 8.0 compared to D c = 1.0, attributed to amplified low-frequency phonon density in tightly cross-linking networks. Meanwhile, restricted chain mobility at elevated D c suppresses heat absorption, decreasing C p and C v by 8.9% and 8.6%, respectively, across 300-330K. Critically, these insights provide actionable guidelines for tailoring vulcanization parameters to balance processability and service performance in SBR-based products. The elucidated micro-mechanisms that spanning phonon transport modulation and chain dynamics restriction offer fundamental principles for designing cross-linked elastomers with targeted multifunctional properties. vulcanized SBR thermal properties mechanical properties MD simulations micro mechanisms Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 06 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Journal of Polymer Research → Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Jun, 2025 Editor invited by journal 22 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 20 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 19 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6667597","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":465695268,"identity":"e5f63fae-fa30-4df1-b875-a4a6e83e720a","order_by":0,"name":"Tian Yan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tian","middleName":"","lastName":"Yan","suffix":""},{"id":465695269,"identity":"e8612bb5-ab30-47f6-93f5-337629b4d959","order_by":1,"name":"Kejian Wang","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA9ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJACxgYeGwYGZuYGZqiAATFa0oBaGMFaJIjUwnAYTBGnxeD42cMvZ8icj+ZvB2opbLOrY2Bv3ibBUHMHt5YzeWmWG3hu5844DNQysy1ZgoHnWJkEw7FnOLWYHcgxM3wA1NIA0sLbdkCCQSLHTIKx4TBuLeffgLScy50P1yL/hoCWGznGDzfwHMjdgLCFB78W+xtvzBhn8CTnbgRqOTzjXLJkG09asUXCMdxaJPtzjD/29tjlzjt/+ODjgjI7fn72wxtvfKjBrQUI2CQYeyCsA2AuiEjApwEY7R8YfuBXMQpGwSgYBSMcAAC7ZlUXWCKcngAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5216-5128","institution":"Beijing University of Chemical Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kejian","middleName":"","lastName":"Wang","suffix":""},{"id":465695270,"identity":"fbe78b9b-cc02-4de1-bd99-398f3bba29fa","order_by":2,"name":"Xiuying Zhao","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiuying","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhao","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-15 00:07:58","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6667597/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6667597/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-025-04743-z","type":"published","date":"2026-01-06T15:56:56+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":100069497,"identity":"612d9ee8-a905-4485-b248-2dc7c8105c45","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-12 16:14:39","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1244445,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Manuscriptrevised3.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6667597/v1_covered_3a3a445b-3a4a-4657-9be8-772b1b80ae0d.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Effect of cross-linking degree on thermal-mechanical properties of vulcanized SBR","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-polymer-research","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jpol","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Polymer Research](https://www.springer.com/journal/10965)","snPcode":"10965","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jpol/","title":"Journal of Polymer Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"vulcanized SBR, thermal properties, mechanical properties, MD simulations, micro mechanisms","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6667597/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6667597/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eStyrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) has attracted widespread attention due to its excellent thermal-mechanical properties, which critically govern its processing and service performance. While existing research predominantly focuses on blending and filling modifications, the influence of vulcanization characteristics on these properties and their underlying micro-mechanisms remain underexplored. This work systematically investigates how cross-linking degree (\u003cem\u003eD\u003c/em\u003ec) modulates the thermal-mechanical properties of vulcanized SBR, including shear viscosity \u003cem\u003eη\u003c/em\u003e, bulk viscosity \u003cem\u003eη\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003eb\u003c/sub\u003e, specific heat capacity(\u003cem\u003eC\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003ep\u003c/sub\u003e, \u003cem\u003eC\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003ev\u003c/sub\u003e), as well as the thermal conductivity(\u003cem\u003eκ\u003c/em\u003e). Key findings reveal that increasing shear rate (γ\u0026amp;) enhances the susceptibility of molecular chains to orientation, thereby decreasing \u003cem\u003eη\u003c/em\u003e by 83.4–93.2%. Moreover, greater γ\u0026amp; resulted in heightened intermolecular forces, constraining the movement of the molecular chains and consequently increasing \u003cem\u003eη\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003eb\u003c/sub\u003e by 88.6-100.9%. Conversely, higher \u003cem\u003eD\u003c/em\u003ec intensifies intermolecular constraints, elevating \u003cem\u003eη\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eη\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003eb\u003c/sub\u003e by 65.5–23.3% and 6.6–11.1%, respectively, within the same shear regime. Thermally, a 48.4% increase in \u003cem\u003eκ\u003c/em\u003e is observed at \u003cem\u003eD\u003c/em\u003ec = 8.0 compared to \u003cem\u003eD\u003c/em\u003ec = 1.0, attributed to amplified low-frequency phonon density in tightly cross-linking networks. Meanwhile, restricted chain mobility at elevated \u003cem\u003eD\u003c/em\u003ec suppresses heat absorption, decreasing \u003cem\u003eC\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003ep\u003c/sub\u003e and \u003cem\u003eC\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003ev\u003c/sub\u003e by 8.9% and 8.6%, respectively, across 300-330K. Critically, these insights provide actionable guidelines for tailoring vulcanization parameters to balance processability and service performance in SBR-based products. The elucidated micro-mechanisms that spanning phonon transport modulation and chain dynamics restriction offer fundamental principles for designing cross-linked elastomers with targeted multifunctional properties.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Effect of cross-linking degree on thermal-mechanical properties of vulcanized SBR","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-06 02:46:30","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6667597/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-06-04T04:59:59+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-03T07:44:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"Journal of Polymer Research","date":"2025-05-22T18:05:05+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-05-20T08:29:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Polymer Research","date":"2025-05-19T19:32:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-polymer-research","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jpol","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Polymer Research](https://www.springer.com/journal/10965)","snPcode":"10965","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jpol/","title":"Journal of Polymer Research","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a09f2862-c416-4dae-b75b-20dd9b272e98","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 6th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-12T16:07:17+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6667597","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-025-04743-z","journal":{"identity":"journal-of-polymer-research","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Journal of Polymer Research"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-06 15:56:56","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 6th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-06 02:46:30","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s10965-025-04743-z","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-025-04743-z","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6667597","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6667597","identity":"rs-6667597","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}