MXene Enabling the Long-Term Superior Thermo-Oxidative Resistance for Elastomers

Abstract

The ability of long-term thermo-oxidative resistance is very important for elastomers in application. However, many conventional antioxidants are difficult to realize the long-term thermo-oxidative resistance. To overcome this limitation, a design strategy is introduced by combing elastomers with MXene and natural rubber (NR) is chosen as a model material. MXene is efficient in absorbing oxygen and the generated free radicals in the NR matrix and can inhibit the diffusion of oxygen toward the interior. Moreover, MXene, like graphene and carbon black, absorbs molecular chains, inhibiting the migration of MXene toward the surface of the sample. Such characteristics of MXene endow NR/MXene with the long-term outstanding thermo-oxidative resistance. For example, after three days of the thermo-oxidative process for NR/MXene, the tensile strength is 19 MPa and the retention of tensile strength is 63%, which far exceeds the effects of conventional antioxidants. This work not only provides a good guide for the universal design of elastomers with long-term thermo-oxidative resistance but also expands the application of MXene.

Ti3C2Tx MXene‐Reinforced Natural Rubber Nanocomposites with Tailored Mechanical and Antiaging Properties

“…Therefore, it can be reported that Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene can effectively protect NR nanocomposites from aging due to its free radical scavenging ability. [ 58,77 ] Based on our findings, the following antiaging mechanism of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene is proposed ( Scheme ).…”

“…A study has reported that NR with 7 wt% of MXene has shown about 60–70% retention of tensile strength and elongation at break upon aging at 100 °C for 3 days. [ 77 ] Further, the same author has reported around 10–30% retention of tensile strength and 45–65% retention of E@B upon aging of NR, which consists of different types of organic antioxidants. According to our results, the NRMX nanocomposites have shown about 80–90% and 60–78% retention of mechanical properties upon aging for 1 and 3 days at 100 °C, respectively.…”

“…According to EPR results, NR has shown a higher concentration of free radicals, while the free radical concentration has reduced in the presence of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene in NR upon aging. It has been reported that the free radical formation due to heat in the presence of oxygen is the main cause for the aging of NR composites, [ 77 ] where the EPR signal at around 335 mT of the magnetic field can be assigned to the carbon free radicals, and the adjacent signal at around 340 mT may occur due to high oxygen concentration. [ 80 ] Overall, this reduction in free radical concentration in NRMX nanocomposites can be used to confirm the antiaging ability of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene in NR.…”

“…Figure 8e–f shows the corresponding intensities of carbonyl peaks in the range of 1750–1500 cm −1 wavenumbers that occur due to the continuous absorption of free radicals by NR during the aging process. [ 77 ] According to Figure 8e–f, the intensity of carbonyl peaks of MXene‐containing NR nanocomposites shows almost a slight variation, while NRMX‐0 nanocomposite shows an increased intensity upon aging. Further, these results are compatible with the EPR spectra of these nanocomposites.…”

Toward Mechanically Robust Crosslinked Elastomers through Phase Transfer Agent Tuning the Solubility of Zn2+ in the Organic Phase

“…To highlight the importance of phase transfer agent to properties of crosslinked elastomers, we compare tensile strength, tear strength, and elongation at break among this work and the elastomers with different accelerators in Figure 4 c,d. The data of elastomers with different accelerators are from the previous works, containing N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolesulfenamide (CZ) [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ], diphenyl guanidine (D) [ 49 , 50 ], dibenzothiazyl disulfide (DM) [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ], 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (M) [ 2 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ], N-tert-butylbenzothiazole-2-sulphenamide (NS) [ 30 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ], and tetra methyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD) [ 30...…”