Multistage Mechanical Activation of Multilayer Carbon Nanotubes in Creation of Electric Heaters with Self-Regulating Temperature

The article deals with research related to the issues of nanomodification of elastomers as a basis of electric heaters with self-regulating temperature. The effect of multistage mechanical activation of multilayer carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) with graphite on the uniformity of the temperature field distribution on the surface of nanomodified organosilicon elastomer has been studied. The influence of the stages of mechanical action on the parameters of MCNTs is revealed. It has been ascertained that for the MCNTs/graphite bulk material, which has passed the stage of mechanical activation in the vortex layer apparatus, a more uniform distribution of the temperature field and an increase in temperature to 57.1 degrees C at the supply voltage of 100 V are typical. The distribution of the temperature field in the centrifugal paddle mixer WF-20B for mixing MCNTs with graphite has been investigated. It has been found that there is also a thermal effect in addition to the mechanical action on the MCNTs in the paddle mixer WF-20B. The thermal effect is associated with the transfer of the mechanical energy of friction of the binary mixture MCNTs/graphite on the paddle and the walls of the vessel. The multiplicity of the starting current I-p to the nominal I-n (I-p/I-n) is 5 for the first sample, 7.5 for the second sample, and 10 for the third sample at the supply voltage of 100 V. The effect of reducing the starting current and stabilizing the temperature indicates the presence of self-regulation, which is expressed in maintaining a certain level of temperature.

Automated summary

This article investigates the impact of multistage mechanical activation of multilayer carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) with graphite on the temperature field distribution uniformity and starting current reduction of nanomodified elastomers for self-regulating electric heaters. The results show that mechanical action and thermal effects play a role in the distribution of the temperature field, with a significant reduction in starting current and stabilization of temperature observed. The presence of self-regulation is evident in maintaining a certain level of temperature.