Compositing prevulcanized natural rubber with multiwalled carbon nanotubes to make antistatic films

Abstract

Natural rubber was prevulcanized using ultraviolet (UV) light and the resulting prevulcanized natural rubber (PVNR) was composited with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a conductive filler, to make films suitable for antistatic gloves.These films were characterized in terms of mechanical properties and electrical resistivity. Effects of type of UV radiation and other specifics of the production process, on mechanical properties of neat PVNR were first investigated. This was followed by an investigation of the effects of surfactant type on the dispersion of MWCNT in water and the PVNR matrix. Four surfactants with different headgroups were used in preparing MWCNT dispersions that were then mixed with the PVNR latex to form the different films. As a consequence of its milk-like turbidity, the natural rubber latex was found to require deeply penetrating UVA light for satisfactory prevulcanization.Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was the best surfactant for dispersing MWCNT both in water and in PVNR matrix. SDS resulted in MWCNT-PVNR composite films with the least electrical resistivity and good mechanical properties for making antistatic gloves.SDS did not interfere with stress transfer at NR-MWCNT interface. SDS was superior to the other surfactants because its head group had a charge opposite to that on the NR surface and lacked a benzene ring that would have interacted strongly with the hydrophobic surface of MWCNT.

Carbon‐based conductive rubber composite for 3D printed flexible strain sensors

“…Natural rubber (NR), or cis‐1,4‐poly(isoprene), is considered as a suitable matrix material for strain sensor because of its high elasticity and high fatigue resistance. The composite in previous studies usually consisted of elastic materials, such as polyurethane and rubbers, filled with various types of conductive fillers such as conductive carbon black (CCB), carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, graphene fabrics, metal nanowires, and metal nanoparticles 14,18,25–30 . Several forms of carbon‐filled composite were also used in a broad range of applications, in addition to sensors, such as solar cells, 31 water treatment, 32 and Li‐ion batteries 33 …”

“…The conductive NR‐based composites have been extensively studied, for example, NR/CB nanoparticles, 34–38 NR/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), 28,39–41 NR/graphene, 42–44 and SBR/NR‐graphene 45 . Almost all studies selected carbon materials as a conductive filler.…”

“…14,18,[25][26][27][28][29][30] Several forms of carbon-filled composite were also used in a broad range of applications, in addition to sensors, such as solar cells, 31 water treatment, 32 and Li-ion batteries. 33 The conductive NR-based composites have been extensively studied, for example, NR/CB nanoparticles, [34][35][36][37][38] NR/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), 28,[39][40][41] NR/graphene, [42][43][44] and SBR/NRgraphene. 45 Almost all studies selected carbon materials as a conductive filler.…”

“…The composite in previous studies usually consisted of elastic materials, such as polyurethane and rubbers, filled with various types of conductive fillers such as conductive carbon black (CCB), carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, graphene fabrics, metal nanowires, and metal nanoparticles. 14,18,[25][26][27][28][29][30] Several forms of carbon-filled composite were also used in a broad range of applications, in addition to sensors, such as solar cells, 31 water treatment, 32 and Li-ion batteries. 33 The conductive NR-based composites have been extensively studied, for example, NR/CB nanoparticles, [34][35][36][37][38] NR/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), 28,[39][40][41] NR/graphene, [42][43][44] and SBR/NRgraphene.…”