Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This study investigated the sonication effect on the mechanical properties of thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) nanocomposites reinforced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The TPNR nanocomposites were prepared using the melt blending method from polypropylene, natural rubber and liquid natural rubber as a compatibilizer, respectively, with 1% of MWCNTs. The results showed that a good dispersion on nanotubes was achieved by sonication. An optimal sonication time of 1 h was found to produce nanocomposites with maximum tensile and impact strength. The Young’s modulus, tensile strength, elongation at break and impact strength increased by almost 11%, 21%, 43% and 50%, respectively as compared with a pristine TPNR sample. The effect of sonication was also confirmed by dynamic mechanical analysis, it showed that the storage modulus E′, loss modulus E″ and glass transition temperature (T_g) also increased for all MWCNTs reinforced samples. Scanning electron micrographs confirm the effect of good dispersion of MWCNTs and their interfacial bonding in TPNR after sonication.

Keywords

Carbon nanotubes thermoplastic natural rubber mechanical properties

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Nakason

Wannavilai

Kaesaman

. Effect of vulcanization system on properties of thermoplastic vulcanizates based on epoxidized natural rubber/polypropylene blends. Polym Test 2005; 25(1): 34–41.

Shaffer

MSP

Windle

. Fabrication and characterization of carbon nanotube/poly(vinyl alcohol) composites. Adv Mater 1999; 11: 937–941.

Lin

Zhou

Fernando

KAS

. Polymeric carbon nanocomposites from carbon nanotubes functionalized with matrix polymer. Macromolecules 2003; 36: 7199–7205. Available at: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ma0348876.

Pötschke

Bhattacharyya

Janke

. Morphology and electrical resistivity of melt mixed blends of polyethylene and carbon nanotube filled polycarbonate. Polymer 2003; 44: 8061–8069. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032386103009054.

Schartel

Potschke

Knoll

Abdel-Goad

. Fire behaviour of polyamide 6/multiwall carbon nanotube nanocomposites. Eur Polym J 2005; 41: 1061–1070. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014305704004410.

Curran

Ajayan

Blau

. A composite from poly(m-phenylenevinylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene) and carbon nanotubes: a novel material for molecular optoelectronics. Adv Mater 1998; 10: 1091–1093.

Kim

Hayashi

Iukai

. Effect of ball milling on morphology of cup-stacked carbon nanotubes. Chem Phys Lett 2002; 355: 279–284. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009261402002488.

Kooi

Schlecht

Burghard

Kern

. Electrochemical modification of single carbon nanotubes. Angew Chem Int Edit 2002; 41: 1353–1355.

Hou

Bai

Yang

. Multi-step purification of carbon nanotubes. Carbon 2002; 41: 81–85. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622301000756.

10.

Koshio

Yudasaka

Zhang

Iijima

. A simple way to chemically react single-wall carbon nanotubes with organic materials using ultrasonication. Nano Letts 2001; 1(7): 361–363.

11.

Peng

Yong

Gao

Jie

Lian

. Surface modification and ultrasonication effect on the mechanical properties of carbon nanofiber/polycarbonate composites. Composites: Part A 2006; 37: 1270–1275. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359835X05003222.

12.

Avella

Cosco

Lorenzo

. Nucleation activity of nanosized CaCO₃ on crystallization of isotactic polypropylene, in dependence on crystal modification, particle shape, and coating. Polymer 2006; 42: 1548–1557. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014305706000395.

13.

Wang

. Effect of polymer-filler and filler-filler interactions on dynamic properties of filled vulcanizates. Rubber Chem Technol 1998; 71: 520–589.

14.

Yang

Lin

Wang

. Morphology, thermal stability, and dynamic mechanical properties of atactic polypropylene/carbon nanotube composites. J Appl Polym Sci 2005; 98: 1087–1087.

15.

Mukhopadhyay

Dwivedi

Mathur

. Conversion of carbon nanotubes to carbon nanofibers by sonication. Carbon 2002; 40(8): 1373–1376.

Sonication effect on the mechanical properties of MWCNTs reinforced natural rubber

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References