Evaluation of mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotube-based ethylene–propylene copolymer composites mixed by masterbatch dilution

Abstract

A two-step masterbatch mixing technique was studied for preparation of carbon nanotube-filled ethylene–propylene diene elastomer compounds, and compared to conventional one-step mixing process. In the two-step process, a masterbatch compound with carbon nanotube content of 50 parts per hundred was prepared by melt-mixing ethylene–propylene diene elastomer. This material was then compounded with pristine ethylene–propylene diene elastomer and composites with different carbon nanotube concentrations were compared. The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of two different mixing processes on the dispersion of carbon nanotubes and to facilitate the handling of carbon nanotubes, as the masterbatch can be prepared in a controlled way and used for further dilution without the problems related to carbon nanotube processing. The compound properties were studied with emphasis on mechanical characterization and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Masterbatch mixing resulted in the similar mechanical properties of the composites compared to the direct mixing method. At the relatively low loadings of carbon nanotubes, the considerable improvements of the mechanical properties were observed. The aspect ratio of the carbon nanotubes determined by transmission electron microscope was found to be similar to the one calculated from the Guth equation. It showed a considerable reduction in aspect ratio independent of the used mixing method.

Nanodiamond—Carbon Black Hybrid Filler System for Demanding Applications of Natural Rubber—Butadiene Rubber Composite

“…The replacement of small amounts of CB by NDs can be expected to shorten the vul-canization time due to the high thermal conductivity of NDs [37,38] and thus due to the more efficient thermal energy transfer and faster temperature increase in rubber. This kind of behavior has been observed for CNTs [39] and for the CNT-CB filler combinations [14] as well as in the earlier ND studies [40]. However, the effect of NDs was opposite in the current case.…”

Effect of carbon nanotubes and nanodiamonds on the heat storage ability of natural rubber composites

“…The similar effect of CNTs was found in earlier studies. 22 This is due to the increased thermal conductivity of the PCM-NR composite. Surprisingly, NDs increase the curing time although they also improve the thermal conductivity of the composite as seen in Figure 2.…”

“…It has been shown that good CNT dispersion in NR compound can be achieved by solid mixing up to 5 phr filler concentration. 21,22 However, higher filler concentrations are often required for high thermal conductivity.…”

Mechanisms of mechanical reinforcement by graphene and carbon nanotubes in polymer nanocomposites

“…The majority of studies that have followed this approach have reported excellent mechanical properties at even high filler loadings. [107][108][109][110][111][112] The group of Potschke has investigated extensively the effect of CNTs in a number of polymeric matrices via melt mixing and masterbatch dilution. In their research, they evaluated a number of important characteristics for the efficient dispersion of CNTs within a polymer matrix such as the screw profile, the temperature profile, the rotation speed, the injection moulding parameters and the specific mechanical energy.…”