Influence of Graphene Nanoplatelet Filling in Thermoplastic Natural Rubber Antistatic Nanocomposite Using Combination of Solution and Melt Mixing Method

摘要

A simple combination of solution mixing and melt mixing method for the preparation of fully exfoliated and dispersed graphene nanoplatelet (xGnP) in thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) as NBR/PVC (NVC) blend (70:30) has been successfully demonstrated. Two different types of H5-xGnP (～53 layers) and C750-xGnP (～16 layers) were used in this study. The amount of xGnP filled in the nanocomposite has been varied from 0-3 phr. The electrical and mechanical properties of filled TPNR nanocomposites were increased with the increase in both of xGnP types loading. The results suggest that the process provides us a much better dispersion and exfoliation of xGnP into the matrix than direct mixing method. With comparing xGnP types, the number of layer stacked xGnP has significant effect on the tensile strength and electrical conductivity of nanocomposites, the lower the number of layer stacked xGnP, the higher mechanical and electrical properties. The tensile strength of pre-dispersed H5- and C750-xGnP-NR/NVC nanocomposites at 3 phr loading were increased by ～16% and ～34% respectively compared to conventional direct mixing. While dramatic enhancement of electrical conductivity for the pre-dispersed H5- and C750-xGnP/TPNR nanocomposites has been changed from insulating range to antistatic range.