Cure Characteristics And Electrical Conductivity Of Graphene Nanoplatelets Reinforced Epoxidized Natural Rubber: A Critical Review

Chan, Yit Quan (2020) Cure Characteristics And Electrical Conductivity Of Graphene Nanoplatelets Reinforced Epoxidized Natural Rubber: A Critical Review. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Increasing demand for the use of more sustainable or green materials in engineering products has urged the scientist and engineers to come out with alternative for widely use polymeric insulators in electrical application. Epoxidized natural rubber: a Malaysian natural resource derivative seems to be a promising candidate for this application except for its low resistance towards heat and ozone. Designing the formula of epoxidized natural rubber with suitable selection of fillers would be the solution to this problem. The aim of this project is to investigate the cure characteristics and electrical conductivity of graphene nanoplatelets reinforced epoxidized natural rubber. The project result has been separated into 2 parts which are based on laboratory results and postulated results. Firstly, the graphene nanoplatelets reinforced epoxidized natural rubber composites were prepared with filler loading of 0, 0.5, 1 and 3 wt.% using a melt compounding method through a Haake internal mixer according to ASTM D 3192. Once compounded, the compound was then tested through a Rheometer U-CAN Dynatex Inc UR2010 to determine the cure characteristics. The composites were then vulcanized using a hot press machine at 150°C and at cure time of T90 following ASTM D 2084. However, the electrical conductivity of the composites was postulated through a critical review of closely related previous research papers and the data were then been analysed. The postulated electrical conductivity of the composites were further supported by the morphological, thermal, compositional and structural properties of the material by using existing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses data. Different weight percentage of the GNPs filler loading has proven that the GNPs loading affects improved the cure characteristics of ENR/GNPs composite. GNPs loading increase, the scorch time (T2) and cure time (T90) hence increase and result in vulcanisation process delay. The increase in minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) represent the viscosity and strength of the composites. It proven that incorporation of GNPs filler improved the cure characteristics, processability hence resulted in good vulcanized strength. iv Suitable range of filler loading for ENR/GNPs composite as a good electrical insulator is postulated to be in the range of 0.2wt% to 0.5wt%, it is the postulated percolation threshold of ENR/GNPs composites. The ENR/GNPs composites at this range will remain as insulator. Increment in the electrical conductivity leads to the improvement in heat dissipation properties. The graphene nanoplatelets reinforcement would increase the thermal resistance of the epoxidized natural rubber composites via thermal dissipation mechanism without jeopardizing too much of their electrical insulation properties. This finding would be benefitted to current electrical appliance industries.

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