Experimental study on the damping properties of NBR-based viscoelastic materials enhanced by minimal particles

Considering the special requirements for damping materials in the field of building isolation and vibration control, this research aims to improve the mechanical and damping properties of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR, ACN content: 36–42%)-based matrix material by blending four kinds of minimal particles. Carbon black, light silicon dioxide, graphite powder and AO-80 were blended with the matrix material. Orthogonal test was designed and dynamic mechanical analysis test was carried out. The results were evaluated by multiple indicators, including the glass transition temperature (Tg), the peak value of loss factor (ηmax), the width of large damping range in which loss factor is larger than 0.5 (∆T0.5) and the integral area of Loss factor-Temperature (TA). The results showed that the NBR modified by minimal particles could effectively improve the damping properties of the matrix material and made the Tg closer to the service temperature of buildings. Graphite powder could significantly increase the ηmax, and effectively broaden the ∆T0.5. AO-80 could significantly increase the ηmax and TA value. In addition, the optimal scheme was determined by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), with carbon black: light SiO2: graphite powder: AO-80: matrix material = 15: 30: 40: 50: 100.