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Elastomer nanocomposites containing MXene for mechanical robustness and electrical and thermal conductivity

Nanotechnology • 2020
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Publication Information
Authors Mathias Aakyiir, Sherif Araby, Andrew Michelmore, Qingshi Meng, Yousef Amer, Yu Yao, Min Li, Xiaohui Wu, Liqun Zhang, Jun Ma
Keywords Not Available
Journal Nanotechnology
Publisher IOP Publishing
Volume 31
Issue 31
Pages 315715
publication.type International
Paper Link Open Link
Supplementary Materials Not Available
Abstract
A novel 2D nanomaterial, Ti3C2Tx MXene, added conductivity and reinforcement to a common elastomer, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). X-ray diffraction revealed the intercalation of lithium ions and elastomer chains into the MXene interlayer spacing, which enabled exfoliation in the elastomer. The reaction between MXene and NBR was proved by a stepwise Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. With increase in MXene fractions, electrical and thermal conductivity of the composite increased to 9 × 10−5 S cm−1 and 0.69 W m−1 K−1, respectively. At only 2.8 vol% MXene, a swelling ratio of 1.61 was achieved, representing a 75% reduction compared to NBR containing either graphene or carbon nanotubes at the same filler fraction. Tensile tests showed that with the increase in MXene content, Young's modulus increased while both tensile strength and elongation at break first increased and then decreased. Overall, latex compounding proved to be an efficient technique for forming NBR/MXene nanocomposites. The revealed reaction between MXene and NBR to create functional polymer nanocomposites could provide a platform for utilising MXene for other polymers.