Synthesis and Characterization of Conducting Composites of Polypyrrole/Polypyrrole-Coated Short Nylon Fiber and Natural Rubber

Pyrrole was polymerized in the presence of anhydrous ferric chloride as oxidant and p-toluene sulphonic acid as dopant. Polypyrrole-coated short Nylon fibers were prepared by polymerizing pyrrole in the presence of short Nylon fibers. The resultant polypyrrole (PPy) and polypyrrole-coated Nylon fiber (F-PPy) were characterized using SEM and then used to prepare rubber composites based on natural rubber. The cure pattern, cure kinetics, filler dispersion, DC conductivity, mechanical properties and morphology of the resulting composites were studied. The presence of PPy-coated fibers in the natural rubber/PPy system reduced the cure time significantly. The DC conductivity of the composites was found to be better for the F-PPy system compared to PPy-filled NR composite. The F-PPy system also showed better tensile strength, modulus and tear resistance.     

The order addition effect of carbon black/graphite on the electrical properties of rubber composites

Acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) filled with two types of fillers [high abrasion furnace carbon black (C), and graphite (G)] is made to find out the effect of order addition of C and G on the electrical conductivity of the composites. The temperature and frequency dependence of the (dc and ac) conductivity and dielectric constants have been measured. The values of the thermal expansion and thermal conduction coefficient of NBR rubber lead to the difference in I–V characteristics between CB‐ and G‐NBR rubber composites during the measurement. When graphite is first added to NBR, the electrical conductivity of (GC_20‐20) matrix is larger than that of the (CG_20‐20) matrix, whereas the carbon black is added first. At low temperature (T < 90°C), the higher values of the dielectric constant (ε′) for the sample GC_20‐20 compared with that of the CG_20‐20 sample is due to the conducting nature and structure of graphite, whereas the carbon shows less crystallinity and conductivity than graphite. Opposite behavior is noticed at temperature higher than 90°C. The dc conductivity of all composites increases with increasing temperature exhibiting a positive temperature coefficient of conductivity (PTCσ). The conductivity at high temperatures region is controlled by the thermal excitation transport mechanism, whereas at low temperatures region is dominated by tunneling process. The increase in the value of dielectric constant (ε′) with temperatures for the sample GC_20‐20 compared with the sample CG_20‐20 is due to the conducting nature and structure of graphite, and the carbon less crystalline than the graphite. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Fabrication and characterization of NBR/MWCNT composites by latex technology

To develop a rubber composite with excellent electrical properties, a sort of synthetic rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with CN dipoles as matrix, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as filler, was synthesized. NBR composites reinforced with 0.5, 1.5, 3, 10, and 20 phr MWCNT contents were fabricated by latex technology. The electrical conductivity, dielectric characteristics, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness at room temperature of NBR/MWCNT composites were investigated. MWCNTs were found well dispersed into NBR matrix even for 20 phr content by FESEM observation. The electrical conductivity increased with an increment of MWCNT content. The dielectric constant was over 10⁴ at 10³ Hz frequency for 10 and 20 phr MWCNTs‐reinforced NBR composites. It was attributed to the increased electrons and interface polarization. The improved conductivity and dielectric permittivity resulted in an enhanced EMI shielding effectiveness. The EMI shielding effectiveness reached 26 dB at 16.7 GHz frequency for NBR/20 phr MWCNT composite with 1.0 mm thickness. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Influence of modified natural rubber and structure of carbon black on properties of natural rubber compounds

Carbon black‐filled natural rubber composites were prepared using various types of natural rubber: unmodified natural rubber, epoxidized natural rubber with two levels of epoxy groups at 25 and 50 mol % [epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)‐25 and ENR‐50], and maleated natural rubber. Two types of carbon black (HAF and ECF) with different structure and surface area were used. The functional groups present in natural rubber and carbon black were characterized by FTIR and ¹H‐NMR. Furthermore, cure characteristics, mechanical, morphological, and electrical properties of composites and gum rubber compounds were investigated. It was found that the presence of polar functional groups in rubber molecules and the different structures of carbon black significantly affected the cure characteristics and mechanical properties. This is attributed to physical and chemical interactions between carbon black surfaces and rubber molecules. It was also found that natural rubber filled with ECF showed the highest Young's modulus and hardness, which is due to the high‐surface area and structure of the ECF causing an increase in the degree of entanglement between rubber chains and carbon black particles. Frequency dependency of the dielectric constant, loss tangent, and AC conductivity was also investigated. An increase in dielectric constant, loss tangent, and AC conductivity was observed in the ENR/ECF composites. High‐carbon black loading level caused network formation of these conductive particles, increasing the AC conductivity of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS. 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Cure characteristics and mechanical properties of short nylon fiber‐reinforced nitrile rubber composites

Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)‐based composites were prepared by incorporating short nylon fibers of different lengths and concentration into the matrix using a two‐roll mixing mill according to a base formulation. The curing characteristics of the samples were studied. The influence of fiber length, loading, and rubber crosslinking systems on the properties of the composites was analyzed. Surface morphology of the composites has been studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Addition of nylon fiber to NBR offers good reinforcement, and causes improvement in mechanical properties. A fiber length of 6 mm was found to be optimum for the best balance of properties. It has been found that at higher fiber loadings, composites show brittle‐type behavior. Composites vulcanized by the dicumyl peroxide (DCP) system were found to have better mechanical properties than that by the sulfur system. The swelling behavior of the composites in N,N‐dimethyl formamide has been analyzed for the swelling coefficient values. Composites vulcanized in the DCP system were found to have higher rubber volume fraction than that in the sulfur system, which indicates better rubber–fiber interaction in the former. The crosslink densities of various composites were also compared. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1023–1030, 2004     

Evaluation of cure characteristic,physico-mechanical,and dielectric properties of calcium copper titanate filled acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber composites: Effect of calcium copper titanate loading

Calcium copper titanate (CCTO) has been synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction from calcium carbonate, copper (II) oxide, and titanium dioxide as the starting materials. The formation and morphology of CCTO were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transformed infrared spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size analysis. In order to develop flexible dielectric materials, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR)-based composites were prepared with CCTO content varied from 0 to 120 phr (parts per hundred rubber). The cure characteristics of composites were assessed. High-dielectric constant CCTO particles were blended into NBR to make composites with improved dielectric constant. Results showed that the NBR/CCTO composites had a high dielectric constant (10–20) with low dielectric loss (<0.4) and low conductivity (<10⁻³ μS/cm) at frequencies up to 10⁶ Hz. However, the higher CCTO loadings had agglomeration in the NBR matrix, and thus tensile strength and elongation at break sharply deteriorated due to poor rubber-filler interactions. The results showed lower storage modulus E′ and a reduction in T_g with the incorporation of CCTO in NBR matrix. Moreover, improved thermal stability of the NBR/CCTO composites was achieved. SEM was used to observe the dispersion of CCTO particles in NBR matrix.     

Dielectric behavior of aluminum hydroxide‐filled oil‐extended ethylene‐propylene‐diene‐monomer rubber composites in microwave fields

Oil‐extended ethylene‐propylene‐diene rubber composites were prepared with aluminum hydroxide (ATH) and high abrasion furnace carbon black. The dielectric properties at microwave frequencies of the samples were measured in the S (2–4 GHz) band using cavity perturbation technique. The thermal stability of the composites was studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The morphology of the composites was investigated by scanning electron microscopic studies. The fire retardancy of the composites was identified through the limiting oxygen index and horizontal burning test (UL94 HB). The dielectric permittivity, AC conductivity, and absorption coefficient of the highly ATH loaded systems are much greater than the unfilled and lower systems. At higher loading, the dielectric heating coefficient and skin depth were found to decrease significantly. The incorporation of ATH was found to improve the thermal stability and flame retardancy of EPDM. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Dielectric studies of composite paper reinforced with polypyrrole coated pulp fibers from wasted egg holders

Development of thin, flexible, light‐weight, renewable, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly electrode materials are highly feasible in era of modern disposable electronic technology. This article presents the synthesis and dielectric studies of polypyrrole (PPy) coated pulp fibers, directly collected from wasted egg holder's tray. PPy coated pulp fibers converted into compact sheet for the development of potential renewable and low‐cost electrode materials. The morphology, chemical structure, and thermal stability of naked and PPy coated pulp fibril sheets were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. PPy coated pulp fibers revealed better thermal stability and compactness of sheet morphology. Impedance measurements showed a high value of dielectric constant of 1.15 × 10⁶ at 0.5 Hz and conductivity of 7.45 × 10^?4 S/cm at room temperature for PPy coated pulp fibril sheet. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42422.     

Electrically conductive composites of polyurethane derived from castor oil with polypyrrole‐coated peach palm fibers

Electrically conducting fibers were prepared through in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole (Py) in the presence of peach palm fibers (PPF) using iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl₃·6H₂O) as oxidant. The polypyrrole (PPy) coated PPF displayed a PPy layer on the fibers surface, which was responsible for an electrical conductivity of (2.2 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹ S cm⁻¹, similar to the neat PPy. Electrically conductive composites were prepared by dispersing various amounts of PPy‐coated PPF in a polyurethane matrix derived from castor oil. The polyurethane/PPy‐coated PPF composites (PU/PPF–PPy) exhibited an electrical conductivity higher than PU/PPy blends with similar filler content. This behavior is attributed to the higher aspect ratio of PPF–PPy when compared with PPy particles, inducing a denser conductive network formation in the PU matrix. Electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) value in the X‐band (8.2–12.4 GHz) found for PU/PPF–PPy composites containing 25 wt% of PPF–PPy were in the range −12 dB, which corresponds to 93.2% of attenuation, indicating that these composites are promising candidates for EMI shielding applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2146–2155, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation and characterization of coaxial mullite/polypyrrole fibrous nanocomposites via self‐assembling and in situ surface‐initiated polymerization

After mullite fibers particles (MFPs) were surface modified, conductive polypyrrole (PPy) layer was chemically grafted on the surface of the self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) coated MFPs, via in situ surface‐initiated polymerization, resulting in SAM‐MFPs/PPy composites. The composites possess high electrical conductivity at room temperature, weakly temperature dependence of the conductivity. The nanocomposite electrochemical properties displayed nearly symmetric charge–discharge characteristics and an ideal rectangular cyclic voltammogram. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the main peaks of SAM‐MFPs/PPy composites are similar to the SAM‐MFPs, which reveal that the crystal structure of SAM‐MFPs is well‐maintained after the coating process under polymerization reaction conditions and exhibit semicrystalline behavior. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the thermal stability of SAM‐MFPs/PPy composites was enhanced and these can be attributed to the retardation effect of amine functionalized MFPs as barriers for the degradation of PPy. The morphology of SAM‐MFPs/PPy composites showed the coaxial fibrous structure. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:892–899, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Microwave Characteristics of Polyaniline Based Short Fiber Reinforced Chloroprene Rubber Composites

This report presents the microwave characteristics of conducting polymer composites (CPCs) based on chloroprene rubber with special reference to dielectric properties. CPCs based on polyaniline (PANI), polyaniline-coated short nylon fiber (PANI-N) and chloroprene rubber (CR) were prepared by mechanical mixing. The important properties like dielectric permittivity, loss tangent, conductivity, and dielectric heating coefficient were evaluated and compared. It was found that PANI/CR composites had very good dielectric properties in the microwave range. The addition of PANI-N improved the mechanical properties of the composites with reasonably good dielectric properties. The CPCs were also found to have good microwave absorption.     

Composites based on CB/CF/Ag filled EPDM/NBR rubber blends with high conductivity

For many applications of conductive rubbers, it is desirable to endow the conductive rubber with high conductivity at low conductive filler loading. In this work, composites based on ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and nitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) were prepared using carbon blacks, carbon fibers, and silver powders as fillers. As the weight fraction of silver powder increased, the hardness of composites increased gradually while the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased. SEM revealed that the EPDM/NBR blends exhibited a relatively co‐continuous morphology. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves reported the EPDM/NBR rubber blends were incompatibility. The thermogravimetry (TG) studies showed that adding a small amount of silver powder could improve the thermal stability of composites. These conductive composites exhibited good electrical property. At room temperature, when the total volume fraction of fillers was 15.20%, the volume resistivity of EPDM/NBR blend was only 0.0058 Ω cm. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41357.     

Characterization of barium titanate reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene rubber composites for flexible electronic applications: influences of barium titanate content

The aim of this study was to develop high dielectric constant flexible polymers with a highly efficient and cost‐effective approach using acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) as the polymer matrix and barium titanate (BT) as the high dielectric constant filler. The BT powder was synthesized with a solid‐state reaction and was characterized using a particle size analyzer, XRD, SEM and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. NBR/BT composites were fabricated using an internal mixer with various BT loadings up to 160 phr. The influence of BT loading on the cure characteristics and mechanical, dynamic mechanical, thermal, dielectric and morphological properties was determined. The incorporation of BT in the NBR matrix shortened scorch time and increased delta torque. The mechanical properties, thermal stability and dielectric constant were greatly improved and increased with BT loading. The results suggest that the reinforcement effect was achieved due to strong hydrogen bonding or polar–polar interactions between NBR matrix and BT filler. This is further corroborated by the good dispersion of BT filler in the NBR matrix observed with SEM imaging. These findings can be applied to produce high‐performance dielectric elastomers. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry     

Electrical conductivity and electric modulus of stable Kevlar® fiber loaded HAF/NBR rubber composite

DC, AC conductivities and dielectric properties of high abrasion furnace carbon black (HAF)/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composite have been studied with varying the aramide Stable Kevlar^® fiber content, temperature, and frequency. Generally, the electrical conductivity was decreased with increasing Stable Kevlar^® fiber content, which was confirmed by the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Negative temperature coefficient of conductivity (NTCC) behavior between 353 and 413 K was detected, except for the composite containing 10 phr Kevlar which showed positive temperature coefficient of conductivity (PTCC) behavior above 383 K. These NTCC and PTCC behaviors were further manifested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For the composite with 10 phr Kevlar, the interfacial polarization between the fibers and the polymeric composite can be ascribed to Maxwell‐Wagner‐Sillars mechanism. The (MWS) relaxation disappeared for higher fibers content. The analysis of the electric modulus in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz shows that the interfacial relaxation obeys Cole–Davison distribution of relaxation times. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Supercapacitive properties of electrodeposited polypyrrole on acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber as a flexible current collector

Flexible sheets consisting of acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) and vapor-grown carbon fiber (VGCF) are newly prepared varying the composition (VGCF 10–30 wt%) for use as a current collector of supercapacitor electrodes. The electrical conductivity of as-prepared VGCF/NBR current collector can be enhanced as the content of VGCF increases. The VGCF/NBR current collector is then electrodeposited with pyrrole using a potentiodynamic cyclic voltammetry to yield a polypyrrole (PPy)/VGCF/NBR composite electrode. Cyclic voltammetry result for the PPy/VGCF/NBR composites shows that the sample with 30 wt% VGCF achieves a maximum specific capacitance (125.8 F g^?1) at 5?mV?s^?1 and reaches a lower specific capacitance at higher scan rates. In addition, the flexibility of supercapacitor electrode of PPy can also be established with a comparable capacitance value by using the NBR-based current collector.     

Synthesis and characterization of the novel meta‐modified aramid fibers with liquid crystalline properties

To improve the interfacial adhesion between the meta‐aramid fibers and the matrix, the new method of interfacial polymerization was used to complete the aramid's surface modification. Two new kinds of grafted fibers which had liquid crystalline properties were prepared. The structure and properties of the aramid fibers before and after modification were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarizing optical microscope. The surface of grafted aramid fibers was very rough. The range of liquid crystalline phase of the grafted fibers AF‐1 and AF‐2 on the cooling scan, respectively, is from 147 to 209°C and from 163 to 221°C. It was novel that the grafted fibers with rigid‐rod structure had typical nematic texture. The grafted aramid fibers as the ideal substitute material of asbestos were used as reinforcing fibers in nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix. Combining with NBR, the composites reinforced with the unmodified and grafted aramid fibers were synthesized. The micrographs of the composites' fractured surface were studied by SEM. The mechanical properties of the grafted fibers/NBR composites were superior to the unmodified fibers/NBR composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

A study on mechanical,thermal, and wear characteristics of nylon 66/molybdenum disulfide composites reinforced with glass fibers

The influence of silane‐coated short glass fibers (SGF) on the mechanical and wear characteristics of nylon 66 composites was investigated by compounding nylon 66 with 35% SGF as well as with 2% molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) and without MoS₂ in a co‐rotating twin screw extruder. Thus the resultant material was evaluated for physico‐mechanical, thermal, sliding wear, and morphological characteristics. It was found that the addition of glass fibers as well as MoS₂ has significantly improved the tensile strength, tensile modulus, and impact strength of the nylon 66. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis reveals significant changes in the crystallization behavior of nylon 66 for incorporation of fillers. Thermal stability of the nylon 66 was found to be improved as revealed by the thermogravimetric analysis results. Dynamic mechanical analysis results show drastic improvement in the storage modulus of the nylon 66 both in the glassy region as well as in the rubbery region. Wear analysis shows that the incorporation of glass fibers and MoS₂ filler has reduced the wear loss and specific wear rate of nylon 66. Worn surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy to have better insight of the wear mechanism. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of adhesive‐coated glass fiber in natural rubber (NR), acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), and ethylene–propylene–diene rubber (EPDM) formulations. I. Effect of adhesive‐coated glass fiber on the curing and tensile properties of NR,NBR, and EPDM formulations

Adhesive‐coated glass fibers (3 and 6 mm in length) were added at loadings of 10, 20, and 30 phr in natural rubber (NR), nitrile rubber (NBR), and ethylene–propylene–diene comonomer (EPDM) formulations in both plain and carbon black mixes. The compounds were mixed in a two‐roll mill and were characterized for their cure properties, tensile, tear, and Mullin's effect. In NR mixes, all of the formulations showed reversion in cure behavior, suggesting that NR remained unaffected. In NBR and EPDM mixes, almost all of the mechanical properties of the fiber improved. The result was more significant in EPDM than in NBR. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1111–1123, 2004     

Charge transport mechanism in intercalated polypyrrole aluminum‐pillared montmorillonite clay nanocomposites

Nanocomposites based on intercalated conducting polypyrrole (PPy) into the galleries of inorganic aluminum‐pillared Montmorillonite (Al‐PMMT) clay with varying concentrations of Al‐PMMT were prepared by in situ chemical polymerization. The intercalation was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction pattern. Charge transport mechanism in these composites was investigated by temperature dependent direct current conductivity measurements. An increase in DC conductivity value on addition of (Al‐PMMT) clay in the composites at all temperatures and a transition from three‐dimensional (3D) Mott's variable range hopping (VRH) process in pristine PPy to one‐dimensional (1D) Mott's VRH process in the intercalated polymer composites has been observed. This transition in charge transport mechanism of PPy from 3D VRH to 1D VRH on intercalation has been interpreted in terms of straightening and linearization of polymer chains and decrease in inter‐chain interactions in the intercalated PPy. Enhancement in mechanical properties and increase in thermal stability of the nanocomposites was also observed with the increase in weight percentage of Al‐PMMT in PPy‐Al‐PMMT composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Aluminum powder filled nitrile rubber composites

Effect of aluminum powder on the properties of nitrile rubber (NBR) composites and the role of bonding agent viz. hexamethylene tetramine‐resorcinol has been investigated. Shore A hardness of the aluminum powder filled composites is lower than that of high abrasion furnace (HAF) and acetylene black (ACB) filled nitrile rubber composites and can be increased by the addition of bonding agent. Equilibrium swelling decreased considerably by the use of hexamethylene tetramine‐resorcinol, suggesting an improved nitrile rubber–aluminum powder adhesion. A marked increase in thermal conductivity is obtained with the incorporation of aluminum powder. Increased thermal conductivity reduced the additional time needed for the vulcanization of thick rubber articles and imparted uniform curing throughout the material. In nitrile rubber, the modulus and tensile strength followed the order HAF > ACB > aluminum powder. Combination of HAF and aluminum powder in NBR gave composites with good thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3156–3161, 2004