EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER-POLYANILINE DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE BLENDS: EFFECT OF STRAIN

Abstract

Abstract Colorable, sulfur-vulcanized epoxidized natural rubber-polyaniline dodecylbenzenesulfonate (ENR-PAni.DBSA) blends with good electrical conductivities (up to 10 −1 S·cm −1 ) and good mechanical properties (including high damping) were successfully prepared. An effect of conductive filler particle's surface area and shape was studied for the vulcanized blends by testing them through 900 cycles of straining. The elongated shape of PAni.DBSA particles (as observed by using transmission electron microscope) did contribute to the very low percolation threshold for unstrained samples (about 3.0 wt. % of PAni.DBSA loading) and the reproducible electrical behavior (≥95% retention of original unstrained value) for samples under straining cycles. With the ideal mechanical properties and reproducible electrical behavior, these vulcanized blends do have good potential to be used as flexible smart materials that can correspond to the straining process.