Styrene–butadiene rubber‐based nanocomposites toughened by carbon nanotubes for wide and linear electromechanical sensing applications

Abstract

The contribution from specific interactions between rubber and filler sometimes plays a crucial role in the mechanical reinforcement and electromechanical sensitivities of rubber composites. This research explores the physical, mechanical, and electromechanical properties of styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Mechanical, thermodynamic, and scanning electron microscopy studies reveal that CNTs primarily enhance the mechanical properties through physical interactions with the rubber. Notably, π‐stacking interactions between the aromatic π‐electrons in SBR and the delocalized π‐electrons in CNTs contribute to significant improvements in mechanical strength. For instance, adding 4 phr (per hundred grams of rubber) of CNTs results in an impressive 871% increase in fracture toughness compared to unfilled rubber. These composites also exhibit remarkable stress and strain improvements even with small amounts of CNTs, making them suitable for robust strain sensing applications. Specifically, the composite containing 3 phr of CNTs demonstrates superior strain sensitivity (2.87 < GF < 48.62), a wide detection range (0% < Δε < 187%), and excellent linearity (0.927 < R2 < 0.995). Lower CNT content enhances sensitivities but reduces overall linearity, while higher CNT content improves linearity but decreases sensitivity. Moreover, these composites perform exceptionally well under compressive forces, even at a 0.5 N applied force. Given their excellent response to mechanical forces and strain, these composites hold promise for applications like electronic skin, strain sensors, and energy‐harvesting devices.Highlights Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used as reinforcing fillers in SBR composites. CNTs significantly improve physical, mechanical, and electrical properties. Primarily, π‐stacking may be involved in enhancing these properties. The composites exhibit strong strain and force‐sensing capabilities. These composites could be valuable for wearable electronics in the future.

Improving the stability of multiwalled carbon nanotube/silicone rubber composites strain sensors by nanosilica

“…As shown in Figure 9H, the MWCNT‐NSD 20 /VMQ composites exhibit excellent repeatability and stability after 15,000 cycles under 80% strain. The locally enlarged diagram demonstrates the consistent stability of the resistance response signal of the MWCNT‐NSD 20 /VMQ composites without a shoulder peak effect, highlighting its advantages compared with other rubber composites 11,16,37,39–43 …”

“…The locally enlarged diagram demonstrates the consistent stability of the resistance response signal of the MWCNT-NSD 20 /VMQ composites without a shoulder peak effect, highlighting its advantages compared with other rubber composites. 11,16,37,[39][40][41][42][43] In this article, three experimental methods are used to explain the mechanism of eliminating the shoulder peak effect. Methods such as computational simulation can be taken in future studies.…”

Enhanced rheological properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced natural rubber/butadiene rubber nanocomposites

“…[5][6][7] Among them, CNT, with their excellent mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties due to their remarkably high aspect ratio, flexibility, and strength, have emerged as potentially ideal candidates for the fabrication of highperformance elastic nanocomposites and gained thus increasing attention from both academia and industry in recent years. [8][9][10] It is well known that the application potential of CNT has been gravely limited due to the difficulties correlated with the dispersion of CNT in polymer matrix resulting from the strong van der Waals attractions and poor interfacial interaction between CNT and polymer. 11,12 In recent years, a variety of approaches have been proposed to improve the dispersion of CNT and to enhance the interfacial interaction between CNT and rubber matrix, such as chemical functionalization, 13 ultrasonic dispersion, 14 latex blending, 15 solution mixing, 16 and melt/mechanical compounding.…”