Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes and Rubber Composites

Abstract

In this research, the composite materials between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) andnatural rubber was studied. CNTs which used as dispersed phase were synthesized from NiOvia chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method. The composites sample was fabricated bycasting technique. CNTs was added into rubber for 0 ??? 1.0 % by volume. The physical andmechanical properties such as density, tensile strength, toughness, hardness and wear test ofcomposite samples were examined, respectively. Furthermore, microstructures of sampleswere also investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). From the results, it can beseen that the mechanical properties such as hardness of rubber was improved with the addingof CNTs.

Keywords: CNTs, Rubber, Composites