Abstract:

This paper introduces recent advances in nano-to mega-technology of elastomers that is powerful for the "Green, Innovation, and Development" of elastomeric materials for the sustainable society.  As a first step we have developed polymer nanotechnology from nano-fishing of a single polymer chain, nano-mechanical mapping of various types of elastomeric materials with complex morphology including polymer blends, nano-composites to three dimensional imaging using transmission electron micro-tomography(3D-TEM).  Then, these nano-scale structure and properties have been connected with macroscopic properties by large scale computer simulation.  This polymer nanotechnology has been applied to  polymer mega-technology such as development of ultra low rolling resistance tires to improve the fuel economy of vehicles, high performance seals for deep oil drilling, and high performance seismic elastomeric isolators to protect buildings and bridges from big earthquakes.
We will show some results on stress-strain curves on a single polymer chain attached to a surface, nano-mechanical mapping of elastomeric materials filled with carbon black and silica showing the interaction between polymer chains and fillers in nano-scale, and 3D-TEM of filled elastomers  showing the special distribution of agglomerated fillers.  Then, we will show the relationship between the macroscopic properties and these nano-scale structures & properties by using large scale simulation.  At the conference we will show how these information are used to develop ultra low rolling resistance & high wear resistance tread materials for fuel efficient tires. In this case, it was also necessary to control the crosslink structure of elastomer network by nano-mechanical mapping and 3D-TEM.  As for the high performance seismic elastomeric isolators we will show the actual behavior of seismic elastomeric isolators at the real big earthquakes at The East Japan Giant Earthquake on March 11, 2011 with magnitude 9.0. They have been proven to be quite effective to protect buildings and bridges in Tohoku and Kanto area.  For several buildings we could compare the results with and without seismic elastomeric isolators.  Some of the future development of this technology will be also presented at the conference.
 

Keywords:polymer nano-technology, polymer mega-technology, fuel efficient tire, seismic elastomeric isolator, nano-mechanical mapping, 3D-TEM, The East Japan Giant Earthquake
_______________________________________

biography:

Born in 1942 in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
·Graduated from Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo with Bachelor Degree in 1965.
·Graduated from Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo in 1967.
·Member of Research Staff of Bridgestone Tire Central Research, Kodaira, Tokyo from 1967 to 1980.
·Doctor of Engineering, The University of Tokyo in 1972.
·Visiting Scientist of Bell Laboratories, New Jersey, USA from 1972 to 1975.
·Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo from 1980 to 2003.
·IBM Summer Faculty Fellow in 1985.
·Consultant to Bell Laboratories in USA in 1986 and 1987.
·Harold A. Morton Distinguished Visiting Professor of The University of Akron, Ohio, USA in 1993.
·Emeritus Professor: The University of Tokyo from 2003.
·Professor of Department of Organic and Polymeric Materials in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology from 2003 to 2008.
·Emeritus Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology from 2008.
·Professor and Principal Investigator at WPI-AIMR Tohoku University from 2008 to 2012.
·Special Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology from 2012.
·President of The society of Rubber Industry, Japan from 1995 to 1997.
·Vice President of The Society of Polymer Science, Japan from 2000 to 2002.
·Specialist to The Supreme Court in the field of polymer science and engineering from 2006.
·ISO/TC45/SC4/WG9 Elastomeric Isolators, Convener, from 2000.
·Program Director, Innovation Head Quarters, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) from 2013.