Carbon nanotubes based high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber nanocomposite with excellent elasticity and electrical properties

In the present study, we have fabricated a series of high temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (HTVSR)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites with different CNT contents. The CNTs were pretreated by the chitosan salt before being incorporated into the HTVSR. The nanocomposites were then characterized in terms of morphological, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties. It was found that the chitosan salt pretreated CNTs dispersed uniformly within the HTVSR matrix, improving the thermal and mechanical properties of the HTVSR. The nanocomposites could remain conductive without losing inherent properties after 100 times of repeated stretching/release cycles by 100%, 200%, and even 300%. Moreover, the nanocomposites had good response to the compressed pressures. The results obtained from this study indicate that the fabricated nanocomposites are potential to be used in many electrical fields such as the conductive elastomer or the pressure sensor. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.