A Transmission Electron Microscopic Evaluation of Natural Rubber/Graphene Nanocomposite

Kim Song Tan; Azira Aziz; Kok Lang Mok; Hui Mei Lim; Roslim Ramli

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.264.17

Paper Titles

The Effect of Fiber Surface Treatment on the Water Absorption and Morphological Properties of Linear Low Density Polyethylene/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Kenaf Composites
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Influence of Catalyst in Synthesizing Brookite Thin Film Coating
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Characterization of Nanocrystalline Cellulose Isolated from Empty Fruit Bunch Using Acid Hydrolysis
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Microstructural Analysis on Biochar Obtained from Rubber Wood Sawdust via Slow Pyrolysis
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A Transmission Electron Microscopic Evaluation of Natural Rubber/Graphene Nanocomposite
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Electron Microscopy Studies on the Growth of Well-Aligned NiSi/SiC Core-Shell Nanowires Synthesized by HWCVD
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Crystallization Kinetics and Morphology of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Ethylene Acrylate Copolymer Blends
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Mechanical Properties of Hydroxyapatite Reinforced 45S5
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Microscopic Characterization and Analysis of Electrospun TiO₂-PVP and TiO₂-PVDF Fibers
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HomeSolid State PhenomenaSolid State Phenomena Vol. 264A Transmission Electron Microscopic Evaluation of...

A Transmission Electron Microscopic Evaluation of Natural Rubber/Graphene Nanocomposite

Abstract:

Evaluation of Natural rubber (NR)/graphene composite was performed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). As a comparison, plain NR and graphene were also prepared and viewed under the same conditions. The NR and composite material were swelled in styrene, hardened by polymerization process, sectioned into lamellar at room temperature and stained by osmium tetroxide before viewing. As osmium reacts with alkenes in NR but not with polystyrene, a good contrast between the two materials can be achieved. We report TEM images of all the materials used in this study and how TEM images can be employed to relate the interaction between NR particles, with and without the presence of graphene. No obvious interaction between NR and graphene was observed in the composite sample but interparticle interactions between NR particles can be clearly seen. However, the increase in distance between NR particles, as observed in the swelled NR/graphene composite film, is an indication of lesser interparticle interactions. This observation explains the ineffectiveness of graphene as filler in NR, under the current preparation process.