Effect of conductive polyaniline in thermoplastic natural rubber blends on the mechanical, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity properties

This research was conducted to fabricate thermoplastic natural rubber/polyaniline (TPNR/PANI) blends via melt blending method using an internal mixer and followed by compression molding. The effects of PANI contents between 1 and 5 wt % PANI in the TPNR blends on the mechanical properties, thermal stability, electrical conductivity (impedance), and morphology observation were investigated. The TPNR/3 wt % PANI sample exhibited the highest tensile strength (3.7 MPa), elongation at break (583%), flexural strength (1.8 MPa), flexural modulus (37.0 MPa), and impact strength (7.1 kJm(-2)). From the aspect of thermal properties, it was found that with the addition of PANI, the thermal stability of the TPNR/PANI increased. Comparing to nonconductive TPNR sample, the incorporation of PANI promoted the electrical conductivity characteristic to PANI-filled TPNR blends which showing a magnitude order of 10(-9) Scm(-1). Scanning electron microscopy micrograph revealed the good distribution of PANI at the optimum content (3 wt % PANI) in the TPNR blends and the good interaction between TPNR and PANI. It can be concluded that the TPNR blends incorporated with a low loading of PANI could be a newly good conductive material. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47527.