Compatibility-tuned distribution of nanoparticles in co-continuous rubber structures toward microwave absorption enhancement. Issue 2 (4th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Lefan; Zhao, Pengfei; Luo, Yongyue; Yu, Heping; Tao, Jinlong; He, Dongning; Gong, Wei; Li, Dejun; Wang, Zhifen; Peng, Zheng
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 7:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 1093
• Page End: 1100
• Publication Date: 2017-01-04
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra26155h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Carbon black incorporated natural rubber/epoxidized natural rubber composites with enhanced microwave absorption capacity have been designed by a novel approach of compatibility-tuned nanoparticles distribution in co-continuous rubber blends. Abstract : Development of novel and versatile approaches to engineer composites with light density, broad effective bandwidth and high microwave absorption (MA) capacity is of great importance. Here, co-continuous natural rubber/epoxidized natural rubber (NR/ENR) blends with a selective distribution of conductive carbon black nanoparticles (CCBs), have been fabricated by tow-roll mixing. ENR with abundant epoxide groups shows inferior wettability to CCB than NR, which is responsible for the preferential location of CCB in the NR/ENR blend. Increasing the epoxidation level of ENR promotes the preferential location of CCB and creates stronger dielectric loss, thus enhancing the MA properties of CCB/NR/ENR composites. When the epoxidation level increases to 40 mol%, the MA capacity of the composite has been significantly enhanced by 40%. Meanwhile, the qualified frequency bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) of composites with ENR is 85% broader than that of CCB/NR composites. Such a novel approach of compatibility-tuned nanoparticles distribution in co-continuous rubber blends will significantly promote the multi-functional use of rubber and carbonaceous resources.