A novel slurry blending method for a uniform dispersion of carbon nanotubes in natural rubber composites

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/natural rubber (NR) composites were prepared by the slurry blending method to get a better dispersion of CNTs in NR composites. The slurry blending method was a new method to improve and optimize the commonly used traditional method (the latex blending method). The treatment of slurry blending for CNTs/NR composites could reduce the agglomeration and settlement of CNTs than that of latex blending process. In order to show the superiority of this method, the morphology, mechanical properties, Payne effect, thermal conductivity, permittivity and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites prepared by the two methods were measured and compared. Compared with latex blending method, the slurry blending method contributed a better dispersion of CNTs in the NR, and the tensile strength of the sample was increased by 15.2%. Meanwhile, the CNTs/NR composites prepared by the slurry method had more stable thermal conductivity, weaker Payne effect and higher permittivity due to the uniform dispersion of CNTs. More importantly, this work further extended the dispersion method of CNTs in the matrix and may shed some light on the design of advanced technology on rubber industry.