Sulphur-vulcanised epoxidised natural rubber (ENR)-Carbon black blends with reproducible electrical conductivity behaviour

Sulphur-vulcanised epoxidised natural rubber [enr]-carbon black printex xe2b blends with high electrical conductivities (up to 10-1 s.cm -1),exhibiting good tensile properties and high damping were successfully prepared by using an internal mixer. effect of carbon black's surface area and structure on electrical behaviour was studied for the vulcanised blends by testing them through a series of straining cycles (i.e. a total of 900 times of strain loading and unloading process). carbon black printex xe2 b particles with 'hollowed out' shape and higher surface area were observed by using a transmission electron microscope. the carbon black printex xe2b characteristics contributed to the very low percolation threshold (i.e. 3.0 wt % of printex xe2b loading) and also the reproducible electrical conductivity of its blend under straining process (z.95% retention of original unstrained value). with good mechanical properties and reproducible electrical behaviour,the sulphur-vulcanised enr-carbon black printex xe2b blends (with printex xe 2 b loadings,5.0-40.0 wt %) have potential to be used as a raw material for manufacturing flexible smart sensor devices.