Modified and unmodified multiwalled carbon nanotubes in high performance solution-styrene–butadiene and butadiene rubber blends

The outstanding properties of carbon nanotubes have generated scientific and technical interests in the development of nanotube-reinforced polymer composites. Therefore, we investigated a novel mixing approach for achieving a good dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a rubber blend. In this approach the CNTs were incorporated into a 50:50 blend of solution-styrene–butadiene rubber and butadiene rubber. First, the CNTs were predispersed in ethanol and then this CNT–alcohol suspension was mixed with the rubber blend at elevated temperature. The rubber nanocomposites prepared by such method exhibit significantly enhanced physical properties already at very low nanotube concentrations. Additionally, we have analysed the dielectric and thermal properties of the compound. The high aspect ratio of the carbon nanotubes enabled the formation of a conductive percolating network in these composites at concentrations below 2 wt.%. In contrast to the electrical conduction behaviour, the thermal conductivity of the composites has not been influenced significantly by the presence of carbon nanotubes. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicates that the incorporation of CNTs affects the glass transition behaviour by reducing the height of the tan δ peak considerably. Above the glass transition temperature the storage modulus has been increased after incorporation of a small amount of CNTs. Finally, the ‘Payne effect’, an indication of filler–filler interactions, was observed at very low concentrations of CNT in the rubber matrix.