Elastomer nanocomposites containing MXene for mechanical robustness and electrical and thermal conductivity
Nanotechnology • 2020
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.
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