Preparation of Conductive Silicone-Rubber Composites by Dynamic Magnetic Field-Induced Orientation of Ferrosoferric Oxide-Loaded Reduced Graphene Oxide

Abstract

Conductivity in flexible silicone rubber (SR) is usually achieved by a large number of fillers, which tend to degrade the mechanical properties. Therefore, improving the efficiency of conductive fillers is key to producing high performance conductive SR composites. In this study, approximately 28.58% ferrosoferric oxide was loaded onto graphene (Fe3O4@RGO) to prepare SR composites by inducing Fe3O4@RGO alignment in a room-temperature vulcanized SR matrix using homemade translational and rotational magnetic fields. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that the formation of magnetic field-induced Fe3O4@RGO-oriented alignment significantly improves the electrical conductivity of the SR composites. The orientation of Fe3O4@RGO in SR was achieved with a magnetic-field strength of 180 mT in a 2 cm/s translational magnetic field or in a 2 r/s rotating magnetic field. Moreover, the conductivity and electromagnetic shielding efficacy were up to 1.10 ms/mm and 20 dB for orientation with translational magnetic field, and 0.84 ms/mm, 21.6 dB for orientation with rotating magnetic field, respectively. The material’s overall conductivity is improved by the formation of controllable gradient conductive materials under the influence of a translational magnetic field and a rotating magnetic field. Thus, this study provides a feasible method for preparing highly conductive soft polymers.