Some properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) filled natural rubber (NR) composites were improved by adding an ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulphonyl)mide (BMI). In this work, the CNT and IL (CNT-IL) were mixed with NR by latex mixing method. Cure characteristics, thermo-mechanical properties, Payne effect, electrical conductivity and thermal stability were investigated. It was found that IL (BMI) accelerated vulcanization reactions and reduced scorch time. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) results confirmed the role of IL in NR composites along with the reaction between CNT and NR molecules. The temperature scanning stress relaxation (TSSR) measurement was used to assess thermo-mechanical properties, and a relaxation peak of IL was found due to interactions of cations and anions in IL (BMI). Furthermore, the Payne effect was used to qualitatively analyze the roles of IL and CNT in three-dimensional CNT networks in the NR matrix. It was found that CNT dispersion was finer in the NR/CNT composites with IL. Furthermore, the NR/CNT-IL composite had higher electrical conductivity and lower percolation threshold concentration than the NR/CNT composite.
Hybrid filler of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and silver nanoparticles (AgNP) was prepared and then mixed with natural rubber (NR) with CNT:AgNP ratio = 100:1. The AgNP was first synthesized by reacting silver nitrate with sodium citrate as a reducing agent in an aqueous solution. Then, the UV‐vis spectrometry and transmission emission microscopy were used to follow the reaction forming AgNP and the optimum reaction time was found at about 20 minutes. The latex mixing of NR and CNT‐AgNP hybrid filler was eventually performed. It was also found that the CNT‐AgNP hybrid filler enhanced various properties of the NR composites, including torque difference, storage modulus, and initial modulus (from temperature scanning stress relaxation test) as compared to the conventional NR‐CNT composite. Furthermore, higher electrical conductivity with comparatively low percolation threshold of the hybrid composites was found as compared to the NR‐CNT composite. This might be due to decoration of AgNP particles on CNT surfaces or between CNT bundles caused hindering CNT agglomeration and facilitating electron tunneling. Also, CNT network formation the NR hybrid composite was stronger than in the NR‐CNT composite. Furthermore, strong infinite CNT network formation increased thermal diffusion in the NR‐CNT/AgNP hybrid composite.
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