Influence of grafted natural rubber on electrical, mechanical and thermo–mechanical properties of natural rubber/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites using glutaraldehyde as a curing agent

Journal article

Authors/Editors

YEAMPON NAKARAMONTRI

Strategic Research Themes

composite (Materials Processing )

Publication Details

Author list: Chuaybamrung A.; Promsung R.; Clemens F.; Nakaramontri Y.; Johns J.; Kalkornsurapranee E.

Publisher: Springer

Publication year: 2025

Volume number: 143

Start page: 1

End page: 18

Number of pages: 18

eISSN: 1735-5265

URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105005529771&doi=10.1007%2fs13726-025-01501-2&partnerID=40&md5=373b73d72fe41a6c4b0b8b7b3725426d

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

View on publisher site

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to augment the electrical, mechanical, and thermo-mechanical characteristics of natural rubber (NR) film through the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and functionalization of NR molecules, coupled with the curing of NR latex using a glutaraldehyde system. The synthesis of NR grafted methyl methacrylate (NR–g–PMMA) was initially achieved and confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance. (1H–NMR) and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) analyses, which demonstrated successful grafting with a grafting efficiency of 90.75%. Subsequently, the properties of ungrafted NR and grafted NR, both with and without CNTs, were compared and examined. The results revealed that the grafted NR/CNTs composites exhibited markedly enhanced electrical properties, mechanical strength and thermal stability in comparison to ungrafted NR/CNTs. This enhancement can be attributed to the establishment of chemical linkages between NR–g–PMMA and CNTs, physical interactions with CNT surfaces and the crosslinking of rubber chains with glutaraldehyde. Consequently, this investigation introduces a novel finding: the introduction of functional groups on grafted NR facilitates the formation of a crosslinking network, thereby improving both mechanical and electrical properties. Furthermore, this study highlights the advantages of producing flexible conductive materials with high modulus and increased electrical properties. © Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute 2025.

Keywords

Conductive natural rubber, Natural rubber