PAPER CANCELLED: MWNT in Natural rubber for improved Mechanical properties ,air impermeability & conductivity

MWNT  in Natural rubber for improved Mechanical properties ,air impermeability & conductivity
Rani joseph & Neena George
Department of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin-682 022, India.
Email: rani@cusat.ac.in

This paper reports the  effect of varying concentration of  MWNTs on the mechanical , electrical conductivity and barrier properties of  natural rubber (NR). MWNT dispersions have been prepared using a mechanical probe sonicator (13 mm, VibraCell Processor VC 750, operating at 40 % of the maximum power 750 W by sonicating aqueous suspension of nanotubes along with the added non ionic stabilizer for 15 min.  The carbon nanotubes dispersions were mixed with natural rubber latex and made in to a masterbatch . The masterbatch was mixed with natural rubber (ISNR5) at different concentrations and other compounding ingredients were added and the optimum cure times were determined at 150^o C. The samples were compression molded and tested as per relevent ASTM standards .  The addition of MWNT is found to improve the mechanical properties, electrical conductivity  and the air impermeability of natural rubber.