Enhanced dispersion of multiwall carbon nanotubes in natural rubber latex nanocomposites by surfactants bearing phenyl groups

Azmi Mohamed*, Argo Khoirul Anas, Suriani Abu Bakar, Tretya Ardyani, Wan Manshol W Zin, Sofian Ibrahim, Masanobu Sagisaka, Paul Brown, Julian Eastoe

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

81 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Here is presented a systematic study of the dispersibility of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in natural rubber latex (NR-latex) assisted by a series of single-, double-, and triple-sulfosuccinate anionic surfactants containing phenyl ring moieties. Optical polarising microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy have been performed to obtain the dispersion-level profiles of the MWCNTs in the nanocomposites. Interestingly, a triple-chain, phenyl-containing surfactant, namely sodium 1,5-dioxo-1,5-bis(3-phenylpropoxy)-3-((3-phenylpropoxy)carbonyl) pentane-2-sulfonate (TCPh), has a greater capacity the stabilisation of MWCNTs than a commercially available single-chain sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) surfactant. TCPh provides significant enhancements in the electrical conductivity of nanocomposites, up to ∼10−2 S cm−1, as measured by a four-point probe instrument. These results have allowed compilation of a road map for the design of surfactant architectures capable of providing the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs required for the next generation of polymer–carbon-nanotube materials, specifically those used in aerospace technology.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-187
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science
Volume455
Early online date4 Jun 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2015

Keywords

  • Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)
  • Natural rubber latex (NR-latex)
  • Surfactant

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  • New low surface energy materials

    Eastoe, J. (Principal Investigator)

    7/01/137/01/16

    Project: Research

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