Thermal Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes-Alumina (MWCNT-Al2O3) Hybrid Filled Silicone Rubber Composites

A hybrid compound of multiwalled carbon nanotubes-alumina (MWCNT-Al2O3) was successfully synthesized using chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method. MWCNT-Al2O3 at three different weight percentage (0.5wt.%, 1.0wt.% and 1.5wt.%) was added into silicone rubber of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using ultrasonic sonicator. Thermal analysis Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetry (TGA) was performed on each composites and their thermal stability was compared. TGA thermogram showed that 1.0wt.% and 1.5wt% of hybrid compound had more weight loss recorded at decomposition temperature of 400 degrees C. In addition, DSC thermogram also indicated that heat of fusion increased with increasing content (wt.%) of hybrid compound MWCNT-Al2O3 in the polydimethylsiloxane composites. It was found that the presence of MWCNT-Al2O3 hybrid compound had changed the internal energy and the mass loss of the composite.