Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Filled Epoxidized Natural Rubber Nanocomposite

Carbon Nanotubes as Reinforcing Nanomaterials for Rubbers Used in Electronics

“…For rubber-CNTs functional composites, CNTs function by developing the electrical and thermal conductivity and chemical stability of these composites. Rubber-CNTs functional composites have shown outstanding heat resistance, chemical and swelling resistance, electrical conductivity, electromagnetic absorption and interference shielding, and high energy storing capability [6,7,15,[51][52][53].…”

“…A shift to CNTs from traditional fillers like CB has allowed the production of NR compounds with enhanced properties, especially because it generally fails at higher temperatures (above 100°C) and it has low oil and fuel resistance (swells in oils and fuels) [90]. Through the high-shear mixing method, Azam et al [51] have prepared the NR-SWCNTs composites to study the effect of SWCNTs on the tensile, hardness and thermal properties of NR. They observed a reduction in the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation at break (εb) and an increase in tensile moduli (M), hardness and thermal property.…”

“…The unusual decrease in the UTS of NR with increasing SWCNTs content was suspected to have been caused by the agglomeration of SWCNTs particles in the NR matrix and/or the physical contact between adjacent agglomerates. Additionally, the obtained increase in M was reported to be due to an increase in crosslink density, which resulted from increased swelling resistance of the resultant composites and good distribution of SWCNTs into the NR matrix [51]. The uniform distribution of SWCNTs resulted to limited chain movement of NR during deformation, and therefore resulted in high M, which consequently increased hardness of the rubber compounds [51].…”

“…Additionally, the obtained increase in M was reported to be due to an increase in crosslink density, which resulted from increased swelling resistance of the resultant composites and good distribution of SWCNTs into the NR matrix [51]. The uniform distribution of SWCNTs resulted to limited chain movement of NR during deformation, and therefore resulted in high M, which consequently increased hardness of the rubber compounds [51]. The obtained increase in thermal properties was attributed to physical adsorption and good NR-SWCNTs chemical interaction [51].…”

“…The uniform distribution of SWCNTs resulted to limited chain movement of NR during deformation, and therefore resulted in high M, which consequently increased hardness of the rubber compounds [51]. The obtained increase in thermal properties was attributed to physical adsorption and good NR-SWCNTs chemical interaction [51]. Gumede et al [47] used an internal mixer to prepare the NR-SWCNTs composites, but also passed the compounds through the two-roll mixing mill, which could be a reason why they observed an increase in UTS with an increase in SWCNTs content up to 0.1 wt.%.…”