Sains Malaysiana 42(4)(2013): 503–507

Properties Enhancement of TPNR-MWNTs-OMMT Hybrid  Nanocomposites by Using Ultrasonic Treatment

(Peningkatan Sifat Nanocomposit Hibrid TPNR-MWNTs-OMMT Menggunakan Kaedah Ultrasonik)

Mou‘ad A.Tarawneh *, Sahrim Hj. Ahmad, K.A. Ku Zarina, Yu Lih Jiun & Moayad Husein Flaifel

School of Applied Physics

Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E.

Malaysia

Ibrahim N. Hassan

Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E. Malaysia

A.R. Shamsul Bahri

Rubber Research Institute Malaysia, Malaysian Rubber Board, 50908 Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

Diserahkan:  21 Jun 2011 / Diterima: 19 Mei 2012

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

ABSTRAK

Matlamat utama kertas ini adalah untuk mengkaji kesan masa rawatan ultrasonik ke atas sifat mekanik termoplastik getah asli (TPNR) diperkukuh dengan hibrid MWNTs-OMMT. Melalui pembelauan sinar-X, terdapat penambahan dalam jarak antara lapisan di dalam nanozarah tanah liat menunjukkan kehadiran struktur saling selit di dalam TPNR sifat tegangan dan hentaman nanokomposit dengan rawatan ultrasonik menunjukkan peningkatan berbanding nanokomposit tidak terawat. Masa rawatan ultrasonik selama tiga jam merupakan tempoh optimum dalam kajian ini. Mikrograf mikroskop elektron penghantaran menunjukkan terdapat kombinasi struktur terkupas dan saling selit di dalam komposit TPNR dengan penyerakan nanozarah tanah liat organik dan MWNT. Rawatan ultrasonik dapat membantu penyerakan MWNT-OMMT di dalam TPNR dan juga memperbaiki keserasian antara hibrid pengisi dan matriks TPNR.

Kata kunci: Hibrid nanokomposit; karbon nanotiub; polimer nanokomposit; sifat mekanik; termoplastik getah asli

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: moaath20042002@yahoo.com