Enhanced dispersion of multiwall carbon nanotubes in natural rubber latex nanocomposites through the use of benzene-containing branched hydrocarbon surfactants

We present here a systematic study of the dispersibility of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in natural rubber latex (NR-latex) assisted by a series of single-, double-, and triple-sulphosuccinate anionic surfactants containing benzene ring moieties. Optical polarising microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy have been performed to obtain the dispersion-level profiles of the MWCNTs in the nanocomposites. Interestingly, a triple-chain, benzene-containing surfactant, namely sodium 1,5-dioxo-1,5-bis(3-phenylpropoxy)-3-((3phenylpropoxy)carbonyl) pentane-2-sulphonate (TCPh), has a greater capacity the stabilisation of MWCNTs than the commercially available single-chain sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (SDBS) surfactant. TCPh provides significant enhancements in the electrical conductivity of nanocomposite as measured by a four-point probe instrument. These results enabled us to compile a road map for the design of surfactant architectures capable of providing the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs required for the next generation of polymer-carbon-nanotube materials, specifically those used in aerospace