Preparation of Water-suspensible Carbon Nanoparticles and Their Influence on the Properties of Epoxidized Natural Rubber Latex

ABSTRACT

A new kind of water-suspensible carbon nanoparticle was prepared by oxidizing carbon black (CB) using aqueous ammonium persulfate (APS) as an oxidant. The obtained water-suspensible carbon nanoparticles (APS-CBs) were still homogeneously distributed in water three weeks after sonication. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to characterize the changes of the oxygen containing functional groups on the surfaces of the APS-CBs. Furthermore, a high performance of an epoxidized natural rubber latex (ENRL)/APS-CBs composite was obtained by a liquid latex blending method. The carbon nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed in the matrix. In comparison with the ENRL/pristine CBs composites, the APS-CBs improved the mechanical properties of the ENRL/APS-CBs composites. The dynamic rheological properties were also studied.

KEYWORDS:

• Epoxidized natural rubber latex
• latex blending method
• rubber reinforcement
• water-suspensible carbon nanoparticles

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC50903030 and NSFC51273065).