Abstract
Electrically conducting elastomer composites based on natural rubber and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is reported. These composites were prepared by a latex method and an easy washing process. The latex method consists of the mixing of an aqueous suspension of rGO, stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate and pre-vulcanized natural rubber, followed by solvent casting. The percolation threshold of composites was estimated at 1.54 wt.% of rGO. The washing process allowed elimination of the surfactant completely from nanocomposites. The absence of surfactant in nanocomposites was demonstrated by Raman spectroscopy and dynamo-mechanical analysis. The surfactant-free nanocomposites showed improved mechanical and electrical properties.
Highlights
The advancement in the field of carbon polymorphs, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, has significantly contributed to the development of new composites with different applications [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The use of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) promotes the attainment of better colloidal stability to prepare reduction of graphite oxide (rGO)/natural rubber composites, while dodecyltrimethylamonium bromide (DTAB) promotes slight flocculation of natural rubber particles [18]
No significant changes were observed as a consequence of the washing of the natural rubber latex (NR) film with water
Summary
The advancement in the field of carbon polymorphs, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, has significantly contributed to the development of new composites with different applications [1,2,3,4,5,6]. In most of these studies, aqueous suspensions of graphene were incorporated in natural rubber latex followed by precipitation or drying the mixture, and a further vulcanization process using rollers or solvents over extended periods of time These studies indicate the use of different strategies to improve graphene dispersion in the polymer matrix, few of them report how the properties of the resulting composites are affected by the presence of additives, such as surfactants. The presence of a surfactant surrounding the graphene in elastomer composites can affect the charge mobility, impeding the achievement of the optimal performance of electrical conductivity of the composite In this respect, this work reports an easy treatment for the elimination of surfactant from the composites based on natural rubber and terminally reduced graphene oxide. The elimination of the surfactant from the rGO/natural rubber composite films should increase the electrical conductivity and promote the interaction between natural rubber and rGO, favoring the improvement of the mechanical properties
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
