Author/Authors :
TARAWNEH, MOUAD A. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Applied Physics, Malaysia , AHMAD, SAHRIM HJ. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Applied Physics, Malaysia , ZARINA, K.A. KU Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Applied Physics, Malaysia , HASSAN, IBRAHIM N. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - Fuel cell Institute, Malaysia , JIUN, YU LIH Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Applied Physics, Malaysia , FLAIFEL, MOAYAD HUSEIN Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Applied Physics, Malaysia , SHAMSUL BAHRI, A.R. Malaysian Rubber Board - Rubber Research Institute Malaysia, Malaysia
Abstract :
The main goal of this paper was to study the effect of ultrasonic treatment time on the mechanical properties of thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) reinforced with hybrid MWNTs-OMMT. The intercalation of TPNR enhancement into layers of clay by increasing the d-spacing was found using X-ray diffraction. The tensile properties of nanocomposites treated with ultrasonic increased when compared with untreated nanocomposites. The optimum ultrasonic treatment time was obtained at 3 h. The transmission electron microscope micrograph showed a combination of intercalated-exfoliated structure of the TPNR composites with organic clay and dispersion of MWNTs. The ultrasonic treatment can promote the dispersion of MWNTs-OMMT in TPNR and also improved the compatibility of hybrid filler and the TPNR matrix.
Keywords :
Carbon nanotubes , hybrid nanocomposites , mechanical properties , polymer nanocomposites , thermoplastic natural rubber
